安

ān

女 + 宀

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

ān (adjective) peaceful; safe; secure

ān (adjective) calm; still; quiet

ān (verb) to install; to fix; to place

ān (verb) to pacify; to calm

Etymology

Depicts a woman (女) sitting under a roof (宀). Older forms of this character depict a person kneeling with a mark on their thigh and shin to indicate sitting.

About

安 combines 宀 (roof) and 女 (woman), originally depicting a woman sitting inside a house. Early forms show a kneeling figure with a mark on the thigh and shin, explicitly indicating the sitting posture. The character conveys peace, safety, and stability, the comfort of shelter. Its meanings broadened to include security, contentment, and setting things in order, appearing in words for everything from personal calm to political tranquility.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这里非常安全。

Zhèlǐ fēicháng ānquán.

Here is very safe.

请安静地坐下。

Qǐng ānjìng de zuòxià.

Please sit down quietly.

我安排明天开会。

Wǒ ānpái míngtiān kāihuì.

I have arranged a meeting for tomorrow.

为了安全，我们戴了头盔。

Wèile ānquán, wǒmen dàile tóukuī.

For safety, we wore helmets.

他安心地离开了家。

Tā ānxīn de líkāile jiā.

He left home feeling at ease.

设备已经安装好了。

Shèbèi yǐjīng ānzhuāng hǎole.

The equipment has already been installed.

在平安夜，全家团聚很温馨。

Zài píng'ān yè, quánjiā tuánjù hěn wēnxīn.

On Christmas Eve, the whole family reunites, which is very warm.

确保网络安全是当今的重要任务。

Quèbǎo wǎngluò ānquán shì dāngjīn de zhòngyào rènwù.

Ensuring network security is an important task in today's world.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 女

Component: 宀

Example Words