About
The idiom "安然无恙" is formed through a parallel structure that layers meaning to convey a state of complete safety and well-being. The first part, "安然" (ān rán), means "safe and sound" or "peacefully," describing a tranquil, undisturbed condition. The second part, "无恙" (wú yàng), literally "without illness" or "without harm," originates from ancient greetings inquiring about one's health. When combined, the phrase powerfully emphasizes emerging from a potentially dangerous situation entirely unscathed, with "无恙" reinforcing and specifying the nature of the safety implied by "安然." Thus, the term as a whole vividly depicts being perfectly intact and healthy after a perilous event.