安于 (ān yú) — to be content with; to settle for (often implying complacency)

Definition

A fixed expression meaning 'to be content with' an existing situation — it often implies settling, not striving, so context usually disapproves (e.g., 安于现状).

verb
to be content withto settle for (often implying complacency)

Examples

  • ，。
    Tā zǒng shì yì ān yú xiàn zhuàng, bù xiǎng gǎi biàn.
    He is always content with the status quo and doesn't want to change.
  • 安于，。
    Hěn duō rén ān yú píng fán de shēng huó, jué de zhè yàng hěn hǎo.
    Many people are content with an ordinary life and think it's fine.
  • 安于，。
    Tā bìng bù ān yú mù qián de chéng jì, hái zài jì xù nǔ lì.
    She is not content with her current achievements and is still working hard.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
女
女nǚ安ān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 安, 宀 sits above a seated 女 on a cushion; 宀 is the meaning part, 女 is the sound part, and the character originally meant sitting at ease.

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Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 一一yīflat stream of air
  • 丂丂kǎoto exhale

The old shape of 于 may have pictured an ancient wind instrument. Another explanation reads 一 as a flat stream of air and 丂 as an exhaling mark.

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