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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing 'safe' or 'peaceful' with 安 (ān)

    Description & Modification
    Existence & Possession

    Explanation

    安 (ān) means 'safe,' 'peaceful,' or 'settled,' and is one of the most fundamental Chinese characters conveying security and calm. It appears frequently in compound words and names, and can also function as a bound morpheme in words like 安全 (safe) and 平安 (peace).

    Examples

    • 一路平安，到了给我发消息。

      Yí lù píng'ān, dào le gěi wǒ fā xiāoxi.

      Have a safe trip, and send me a message when you arrive.

    • 孩子们都安了，我就放心了。

      Háizimen dōu ān le, wǒ jiù fàngxīn le.

      The children are all settled, so I can rest easy now.

    • 这个小区很安静，住着很安心。

      Zhège xiǎoqū hěn ānjìng, zhù zhe hěn ānxīn.

      This neighborhood is very quiet; living here feels very reassuring.

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    Expressing 'safe' or 'peaceful' with 安 (ān) | Chinese Grammar