治安 (zhì ān) — public security; law and order | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

治安 is the abstract concept of 'public security' — the state of law and order in a society. 公安 refers to the authorities/police that enforce it; 保安 refers to the act of ensuring safety or the guards who do it.

noun

public securitylaw and order

Examples

治安。
Zhè ge chéng shì de zhì ān xū yào jiā qiáng.
The public security in this city needs to be strengthened.
治安。
Liáng hǎo de zhì ān shì jīng jì fā zhǎn de jī chǔ.
Good public security is the foundation of economic development.
治安。
Tā men fù zé wéi hù shè qū de zhì ān.
They are responsible for maintaining public security in the community.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

治 and 安 both point to order and peace, so the word names public security and social order.

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

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

台

台tái治zhì

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

治 has 水 (water) and 台; 台 gives the sound, and the character named a river.

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

宀女安

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.

Appears in

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