安全线 (ān quán xiàn) — security thread (on banknotes or documents); safety line (on a factory floor or public area)

Definition

Two distinct senses: on currency/documents it is the embedded 'security thread' used to prevent counterfeiting; on floors, platforms, or roads it is a visible 'safety line' marking a boundary. Different referents, different English terms.

noun
security thread (on banknotes or documents)safety line (on a factory floor or public area)
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • 安全线。
    Zhè zhāng chāo piào shàng de ān quán xiàn hěn róng yì shí bié.
    The security thread on this banknote is easy to recognize.
  • 安全线。
    Qǐng zhàn zài ān quán xiàn hòu miàn pái duì.
    Please stand behind the safety line and queue up.
  • 安全线。
    Xīn bǎn rén mín bì de ān quán xiàn cǎi yòng le xīn jì shù.
    The security thread on the new edition of the RMB uses new technology.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

安全safe
安ānsafe全quánsecure
联合Side by side
线xiànline

安 and 全 together convey safety, and 线 names the line or thread.

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.

Open 安 →

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

The shape puts 入 together with 玉 to show a whole piece of jade, so it means complete or whole.

Open 全 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
泉
泉quán線xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.

Open 线 →

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