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安宁 (ān níng) — peaceful, tranquil, calm

Definition

安宁 describes a settled, worry-free state of peace, often used for life, society, or the heart. Compare 平安 (safety from harm) and 宁静 (quiet, undisturbed atmosphere).

adjective
peacefultranquilcalm

Examples

  • 安宁。
    Shè huì xū yào ān níng.
    Society needs peace.
  • 安宁。
    Zhù nǐ shēng huó ān níng.
    Wish you a peaceful life.
  • 安宁。
    Tā zài shān lǐ zhǎo dào le nèi xīn de ān níng.
    He found inner peace in the mountains.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

安ānpeaceful
宁níngtranquil

安 and 宁 both mean peaceful or settled, so the word describes tranquility.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 寧; 宁 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánhouse
  • 皿皿mǐnfood or wine vessel
  • 丂丂kǎotable (?)
Open 宁 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Emotions & Feelings

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