HanziGuru.安 · ān
安
ān[an1]Tone 1

safe; peaceful

HSK 2
Guru Deep Dive

English · safe; peaceful

Cached lesson
1 / 1
Topology:Top-bottom
Strokes:6
Writing Balance Rule: The roof radical (宀) must crown the character with a wide, sheltering stance, while the bottom component (女) sits squarely centered underneath, maintaining vertical symmetry.
1. Meaning

safe, peaceful, secure

to install, to fix, to fitto calm, to set at easecontent, satisfiedsurname An
Adjective / VerbNeutral#state of mind#safety#action#technology
Sample Usage
  • 祝你一路平安。
    zhù nǐ yí lù píng'ān.
    Wish you a safe journey.
  • 请把这个软件安装在电脑上。
    qǐng bǎ zhè ge ruǎnjiàn ānzhuāng zài diànnǎo shàng.
    Please install this software on the computer.
2. Sound
/[än⁵⁵]/Tone: 55
安
ānan1
++
¯(55)
=ān
Initial Consonant
∅
Type: Zero Initial (Pure Vowel)
Sounds like: y / w
Unaspirated
Airflow Tactile Test: Starts directly on the vowel sound without consonant obstruction.
Tongue & Mouth Position: Open vocal tract directly into the target vowel shape.
Final Rhyme
an
Vowel Group: -a vowel group
Sounds like: -an rhymes with the 'un' in sun or the 'an' in the English word 'father' transitioning to 'n', similar to the Spanish exclamation 'ah' plus 'n'.
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'ahn'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T1 (55)
1st Tone (High-Flat)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 1 is a high level pitch (55), comparable to a musical note sustained at the top of your vocal range, like saying 'A-ha!' on the first high note.
Sandhi: No special tone sandhi rules apply to this character under normal conditions.
👂
Listening trap: Beginners often mistake Tone 1 for Tone 4 if they clip it too short, or confuse the pure 'an' vowel with 'ang' (-ng ending). Make sure to close your tongue firmly against the alveolar ridge for the dental 'n' nasal ending.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: Tone 1 is a high, flat horizontal line. Imagine holding a steady, high musical note like a singer warming up on 'ahhh'.
3. Writing

Topology: Top-bottom · Strokes: 6 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The roof radical (宀) must crown the character with a wide, sheltering stance, while the bottom component (女) sits squarely centered underneath, maintaining vertical symmetry.

4. Components

Radical 宀 · Roof radical (roof, shelter, house)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 宀 (Indicates a house or shelter, representing the physical space where one finds safety.)

A woman (女) sitting safely underneath a roof (宀). When a person is sheltered at home beneath a roof, they feel secure, calm, and at peace (安).

  • 宀 Roof or shelter
  • 女 Woman
5. History
Liushu category: Compound ideogram (会意)

Origin: In Oracle Bone script, ān (安) was depicted as a woman (女) kneeling peacefully inside a house or under a roof (宀). In ancient Chinese society, a woman safely indoors signified domestic tranquility, order, and security.

Semantic Evolution: Originally meaning 'peaceful' or 'safe' inside a dwelling, the meaning broadened over time to include physical installation (putting something in its proper place, like a roof covers a house), emotional calm, and health.

  • The combination of 'woman' under a 'roof' reflects traditional ancient Chinese domestic ideals of safety and stability.
  • It is one of the most common characters found in everyday greetings like 'nǐ hǎo' and 'píng'ān'.
6. Sinosphere
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: アン / Kun: やす
🇰🇷
Hanja (Korean)
안
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story

Picture a woman (女) relaxing comfortably under a sturdy roof (宀) during a storm. Because she is sheltered from the wind and rain, she feels completely safe, calm, and at peace (ān).

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
按
ànto press, to pushAdd the hand radical (扌) on the left because you use your hand to press.
案
àncase, plan, tableAdd the wood radical (木) on top of 安, representing a wooden table or legal case files.
胺
ānamineAdd the flesh/meat radical (月) on the left for chemical compounds found in biology.
Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)
按(àn)
按 has the hand radical (扌) on the left, denoting a physical pressing action, whereas 安 just has the roof over a woman.
案(àn)
案 features a wood radical (木) at the very top above the roof, changing the meaning to a table or official case.
8. Mastery
Active Recall Challenge
祝爷爷奶奶身体健康，出入[___]。
Clue: píng ān
Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the bottom component (女 - woman) with similar shapes like 子 or forgetting the dot/hook structure inside the roof radical.

Memory Prompts
Recognition: When you see the character 安, what does it mean and how is it pronounced?
Production: How do you write the character for 'safe/peaceful' (ān), which combines a roof and a woman?
Real-World Video Context

Watch authentic native speakers pronounce and explain this word in real-world YouTube videos.

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