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安详 (ān xiáng) — serene, composed (of expression, demeanor, or atmosphere)

Definition

Used for a person's face, expression, or manner — peaceful and undisturbed, especially at the end of life. Unlike 平静 or 宁静, it describes a demeanor, not a scene.

adjective
serenecomposed (of expression, demeanor, or atmosphere)

Examples

  • 安详。
    Lǎo rén liǎn shàng dài zhe ān xiáng de xiào róng.
    The old man wore a serene smile.
  • 安详。
    Fáng jiān lǐ yí piàn ān xiáng.
    It was very serene in the room.
  • 安详。
    Tā shuō huà shí yǔ qì ān xiáng.
    He spoke in a serene tone.

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; calm
详xiángcomposed; serene

The peaceful part and the composed part join to describe serene calmness.

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 →

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 詳; 详 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
羊
羊yáng詳xiáng
Same sound today

In the traditional form 詳, 言 points to speech, and 羊 supplies the sound.

Open 详 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Personality & Traits

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