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安心 (ān xīn) — (adjective) at ease, relieved

Definition

安心 describes a settled, worry-free state of mind — calm because something is safe or resolved. As a verb-object phrase, 安心 stresses keeping one's focus; 放心 is the verb used when worry is being set down.

adjective
at easerelieved

Examples

  • 安心。
    Wǒ xiàn zài hěn ān xīn le.
    I am at ease now.
  • 安心。
    Nǐ gōng zuò de shí hou yào ān xīn.
    You should be at ease when you work.
  • ？
    Tā ān de shì shén me xīn?
    What intentions does he have?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

安āncalm; settle
心xīnmind; heart

The calming part acts on the mind part, giving a sense of ease and relief.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 心 comes from a drawing of a heart, now highly stylized.

Open 心 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Emotions & Feelings

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