bù'ān: 不安 - Uneasy, Unsettled, Anxious

• Keywords: bù'ān, bu an, 不安, meaning of buan, Chinese for uneasy, unsettled feeling in Chinese, anxious in Chinese, bù'ān vs dānxīn, Chinese emotions
• Summary: Learn the meaning of 不安 (bù'ān), a common Chinese word describing a feeling of being uneasy, unsettled, or anxious. This page breaks down the characters, explores the cultural context behind this internal feeling of disquiet, and provides over 10 practical example sentences. Discover the key differences between 不安 (bù'ān), 担心 (dānxīn) (to worry), and 焦虑 (jiāolǜ) (clinical anxiety) to use the term like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bù'ān
• Part of Speech: Adjective, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: Feeling uneasy, restless, or unsettled due to worry or uncertainty.
• In a Nutshell: 不安 (bù'ān) is that internal feeling of disquiet you get when something just feels “off.” It’s not outright fear, but a persistent, low-level worry that makes it hard to relax. Think of the feeling of waiting for important test results, sensing tension in a room, or knowing someone is late and not being able to reach them. It's a feeling of “un-peace” in your mind or heart.

• 不 (bù): This is one of the most fundamental characters in Chinese, acting as a negative prefix meaning “not” or “no.”
• 安 (ān): This character means “peace,” “calm,” or “safety.” Pictorially, it shows a roof (宀) over a woman (女). The traditional interpretation is that a woman safe inside a home represents peace and stability.

When combined, 不安 (bù'ān) literally translates to “not peace” or “not calm,” which perfectly captures its meaning of being unsettled and lacking inner peace.

In Chinese culture, maintaining inner and outer harmony (和谐, héxié) is highly valued. The feeling of 不安 (bù'ān) represents a disruption of this personal, internal harmony. It's often a private, internalized feeling. While a Westerner might quickly say, “I'm feeling anxious,” a Chinese person might keep their 不安 (bù'ān) to themselves to avoid burdening others or disrupting the group's atmosphere. A useful comparison is to the English word “uneasy.” Both describe a similar internal state. However, 不安 (bù'ān) can be more deeply tied to situations that threaten stability—not just for the individual, but also for their family or social circle. For example, a major business decision that could affect many employees might cause a manager deep 不安 (bù'ān), a feeling that encompasses both personal worry and a sense of responsibility for the group's well-being. It's a feeling that one should ideally resolve to restore a state of 安心 (ānxīn), or “peaceful heart.”

不安 (bù'ān) is a very common word used in everyday situations.

• In Conversation: People use it to express a general sense of worry or a premonition. For example, “不知为什么，我心里很不安” (I don't know why, but I feel really uneasy).
• Describing Physical Restlessness: It can describe the physical manifestation of anxiety. For example, “他不安地在房间里走来走去” (He paced restlessly around the room).
• As a Noun: It can be used as a noun to mean “unease” or “turmoil.” For example, “这个消息引起了大家的不安” (This news caused unease among everyone).
• Formality: It is neutral in formality and can be used with friends, family, and in more formal written contexts.

• Example 1:
  • 等待考试结果让我感到很不安。
  • Pinyin: Děngdài kǎoshì jiéguǒ ràng wǒ gǎndào hěn bù'ān.
  • English: Waiting for the exam results makes me feel very uneasy.
  • Analysis: A classic use case. The uncertainty of the outcome is the direct cause of the 不安 feeling.
• Example 2:
  • 不知为什么，我心里总有点儿不安。
  • Pinyin: Bùzhī wèishéme, wǒ xīnlǐ zǒng yǒudiǎnr bù'ān.
  • English: I don't know why, but I always feel a bit unsettled in my heart.
  • Analysis: This highlights the vague, internal nature of 不安. The speaker can't pinpoint the exact cause, it's just a general feeling of disquiet.
• Example 3:
  • 他不安地在房间里走来走去。
  • Pinyin: Tā bù'ān de zài fángjiān lǐ zǒu lái zǒu qù.
  • English: He restlessly paced back and forth in the room.
  • Analysis: Here, 不安 is used as an adverb (不安地) to describe an action, showing the physical manifestation of the mental state.
• Example 4:
  • 他的沉默让在场的每一个人都感到不安。
  • Pinyin: Tā de chénmò ràng zàichǎng de měi yīgè rén dōu gǎndào bù'ān.
  • English: His silence made everyone present feel uneasy.
  • Analysis: This shows how an external factor (someone's silence) can create an atmosphere of unease, or 不安.
• Example 5:
  • 这么晚了她还没回家，我很不安。
  • Pinyin: Zhème wǎnle tā hái méi huí jiā, wǒ hěn bù'ān.
  • English: It's so late and she still hasn't come home, I'm very unsettled.
  • Analysis: This is a common scenario. The worry for someone's safety creates a strong feeling of 不安.
• Example 6:
  • 这个消息在公司内部引起了不小的不安。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xiāoxī zài gōngsī nèibù yǐnqǐle bù xiǎo de bù'ān.
  • English: This news caused considerable unease within the company.
  • Analysis: Here, 不安 is used as a noun, meaning “unease” or “disquiet” on a larger, organizational scale.
• Example 7:
  • 看到你这么难过，我心里也很不安。
  • Pinyin: Kàndào nǐ zhème nánguò, wǒ xīnlǐ yě hěn bù'ān.
  • English: Seeing you so upset makes my heart feel uneasy too.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates empathy. Someone else's distress is causing you to feel unsettled.
• Example 8:
  • 这个老房子总给我一种不安的感觉。
  • Pinyin: Zhège lǎo fángzi zǒng gěi wǒ yī zhǒng bù'ān de gǎnjué.
  • English: This old house always gives me a feeling of unease.
  • Analysis: 不安 can describe an atmospheric or spooky feeling, like a premonition that something is wrong with a place.
• Example 9:
  • 社会转型时期，人心不安是正常现象。
  • Pinyin: Shèhuì zhuǎnxíng shíqī, rénxīn bù'ān shì zhèngcháng xiànxiàng.
  • English: During a period of social transition, it's a normal phenomenon for people to feel unsettled.
  • Analysis: A more formal, sociological use. “人心不安” (rénxīn bù'ān) means “the people's hearts are unsettled,” referring to widespread social anxiety.
• Example 10:
  • 他眼神里流露出一丝不安。
  • Pinyin: Tā yǎnshén lǐ liúlù chū yīsī bù'ān.
  • English: A trace of unease was revealed in his eyes.
  • Analysis: This literary usage shows 不安 as a subtle emotion that can be observed in someone's expression.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 不安 with similar-sounding words.

• 不安 (bù'ān) vs. 担心 (dānxīn):
  • 担心 (dānxīn) means “to worry.” It's a verb focused on a *specific* problem. You worry about something. (e.g., 我担心明天的考试 - I'm worried about tomorrow's exam).
  • 不安 (bù'ān) is the *feeling* of unease that results from worry or uncertainty.
  • Rule of Thumb: `担心` is the action of worrying; `不安` is the state of feeling worried. You `担心` about your friend who is late, and this causes you to feel `不安`.
• 不安 (bù'ān) vs. 焦虑 (jiāolǜ):
  • 焦虑 (jiāolǜ) is a much stronger term, closer to the English clinical term “anxiety” or “anxiety disorder.” It implies a more severe, persistent, and often debilitating state of worry.
  • Using 焦虑 for everyday jitters (like before a speech) is an overstatement. For that, 不安 or 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) is more appropriate.
• Incorrect Usage:
  • Wrong: 我不安我的考试。 (Wǒ bù'ān wǒ de kǎoshì.)
  • Why it's wrong: 不安 is not a transitive verb like “to worry.” You cannot “uneasy” something.
  • Correct: 我对我的考试感到不安。(Wǒ duì wǒ de kǎoshì gǎndào bù'ān.) - “I feel uneasy about my exam.”

• 担心 (dānxīn) - (To worry about) The most common related term. Refers to a specific worry, whereas `不安` is the resulting feeling.
• 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) - (Nervous, Tense) Describes nervousness, often with a physical component like muscle tension or a rapid heartbeat, especially before a performance or event.
• 焦虑 (jiāolǜ) - (Anxiety, Anxious) A stronger, more clinical term for chronic and intense worry.
• 害怕 (hàipà) - (To be scared, Afraid) A stronger emotion than `不安`, referring to fear of a clear and present danger or threat.
• 放心 (fàngxīn) - (To be at ease, To feel relieved) An antonym. The feeling you have when the cause of your `不安` has been removed.
• 平静 (píngjìng) - (Calm, Peaceful) An antonym. Describes a state of inner and outer tranquility, the opposite of `不安`.
• 忐忑 (tǎntè) - (Apprehensive, Perturbed) A more literary and vivid word for feeling uneasy, often used as `忐忑不安` to describe a heart pounding with nervousness.
• 安心 (ānxīn) - (To feel at ease, Peace of mind) A state of being free from worry; the goal one seeks to achieve when feeling `不安`.