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国安 (guó ān) — national security (abbreviation); state security agency, especially China's Ministry of State Security

Definition

国安 is the common abbreviation for 国家安全 ('national security') and is widely used in official contexts — for example, 国安部 (Ministry of State Security) and the 《国安法》 (National Security Law).

noun
national security (abbreviation)state security agency, especially China's Ministry of State Security

Examples

  • 国安。
    guó ān Bù mén zhèng zài diào chá zhè qǐ àn jiàn.
    The state security department is investigating this case.
  • 国安。
    Tā yīn wèi shè xián xiè lòu guó ān jī mì ér bèi bǔ.
    He was arrested for allegedly leaking state security secrets.
  • 国安。
    guó ān Fǎ de xiū gǎi yǐn qǐ le guǎng fàn tǎo lùn.
    The amendment of the National Security Law has sparked widespread discussion.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 國; 国 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
囗囗wéiclosure
Sound part声符shēngfú
或
或huò國guó
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 國 uses 囗 to show closure and 或 to give the sound.

Open 国 →

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 →
Appears in
Government & PoliticsMilitary & Defense

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