ānquán: 安全 - Safety, Security

• Keywords: anquan, ānquán, 安全, safety in Chinese, security in Chinese, Chinese word for safe, Chinese for security, anquan meaning, HSK 3 vocabulary, 安全感, anquangan
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 安全 (ānquán), which means safety and security. This comprehensive guide explores its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use in modern China, from ensuring physical safety (注意安全) to discussing cybersecurity (网络安全) and the profound cultural concept of a “sense of security” (安全感). Ideal for beginners, this page provides everything you need to understand and use 安全 (ānquán) correctly.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): ānquán
• Part of Speech: Adjective, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: Safety, security; safe, secure.
• In a Nutshell: `安全` is the fundamental and most common word in Chinese for being free from danger, risk, or harm. It's a broad term that covers everything from the physical safety of a person to the cybersecurity of a network or the national security of a country. If you want to say something is “safe” or talk about “safety,” `安全` is almost always the right word.

• 安 (ān): This character is famously pictographic. It shows a woman (女) under a roof (宀). The image evokes a sense of peace, calm, and security that comes from being settled at home. It means “peaceful,” “quiet,” or “safe.”
• 全 (quán): This character means “all,” “whole,” “entire,” or “complete.” It represents a state of completeness without anything missing.
• Together, 安全 (ānquán) literally translates to “complete peace” or “whole safety.” This combination powerfully conveys the idea of being entirely protected and free from any and all threats.

In Chinese culture, `安全` is more than just a word; it's a foundational pillar of societal value. The pursuit of safety and stability is deeply embedded in the collective consciousness, often taking precedence over individual freedoms in a way that can differ from Western perspectives. A key concept to understand is 社会稳定 (shèhuì wěndìng), or “social stability.” This is a major goal for the government and a shared desire among the populace. `安全` is the bedrock of this stability. This manifests in highly visible ways, such as the ubiquitous security checks (`安检`) at subways and train stations, and a vast network of public surveillance. While this might be viewed as an infringement on privacy in some Western cultures, it is often accepted or even welcomed in China as a necessary measure to ensure public `安全`. A great comparison is the cultural debate around public vs. individual rights. For example, in the U.S., the right to bear arms is a fiercely defended individual freedom, even with the associated risks. In China, the collective `安全` overwhelmingly outweighs any individual desire for such freedoms, and private gun ownership is strictly prohibited. Furthermore, the term 安全感 (ānquángǎn), or “sense of security,” is a frequent topic of discussion in modern China. This refers not just to physical safety, but also to job security, financial stability, and reliable social welfare. Having a strong `安全感` is a major life goal for many Chinese people.

`安全` is a highly versatile and common word used in many contexts.

• Physical Safety: This is the most common usage. It's used in warnings, signs, and everyday conversation. You'll constantly hear or see the phrase 注意安全 (zhùyì ānquán), meaning “Pay attention to safety!” or “Be careful!”
• Food and Product Safety: 食品安全 (shípǐn ānquán), or “food safety,” is a major public concern and a frequent topic in the news.
• Digital and Information Security: With the rise of technology, terms like 网络安全 (wǎngluò ānquán) (cybersecurity) and 信息安全 (xìnxī ānquán) (information security) are now commonplace.
• Transportation: You'll encounter terms like 交通安全 (jiāotōng ānquán) (traffic safety) and instructions to fasten your 安全带 (ānquándài) (seatbelt).
• Workplace Safety: Construction sites and factories will have signs about 生产安全 (shēngchǎn ānquán) (production safety) and require workers to wear a 安全帽 (ānquánmào) (safety helmet).

• Example 1:
  • 这里很安全，你不用担心。
  • Pinyin: Zhèlǐ hěn ānquán, nǐ bùyòng dānxīn.
  • English: It's very safe here, you don't need to worry.
  • Analysis: A simple and common use of `安全` as a predicate adjective to describe a place.
• Example 2:
  • 出门在外，一定要注意安全。
  • Pinyin: Chūmén zàiwài, yīdìng yào zhùyì ānquán.
  • English: When you are out, you must pay attention to safety.
  • Analysis: `注意安全 (zhùyì ānquán)` is a set phrase that functions as a common warning or piece of advice. Here, `安全` is used as a noun.
• Example 3:
  • 安全第一，生产第二。
  • Pinyin: Ānquán dì yī, shēngchǎn dì èr.
  • English: Safety first, production second.
  • Analysis: This is a very common slogan in Chinese workplaces, emphasizing the priority of safety over productivity.
• Example 4:
  • 请系好您的安全带。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng jì hǎo nín de ānquándài.
  • English: Please fasten your seatbelt.
  • Analysis: `安全带 (ānquándài)` literally means “safety belt.” This shows `安全` used as an attributive adjective modifying another noun.
• Example 5:
  • 食品安全问题是社会关注的焦点。
  • Pinyin: Shípǐn ānquán wèntí shì shèhuì guānzhù de jiāodiǎn.
  • English: The issue of food safety is a focus of public concern.
  • Analysis: `食品安全 (shípǐn ānquán)` is a compound noun. This structure is common for specific types of safety.
• Example 6:
  • 这份工作很稳定，给了我很大的安全感。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fèn gōngzuò hěn wěndìng, gěile wǒ hěn dà de ānquángǎn.
  • English: This job is very stable, it gives me a great sense of security.
  • Analysis: Introduces the important related term `安全感 (ānquángǎn)`, the “feeling of security,” which is a psychological and emotional concept.
• Example 7:
  • 为了保护网络安全，你需要设置一个复杂的密码。
  • Pinyin: Wèile bǎohù wǎngluò ānquán, nǐ xūyào shèzhì yīgè fùzá de mìmǎ.
  • English: To protect cybersecurity, you need to set a complex password.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the modern usage of `安全` in the context of technology with `网络安全 (wǎngluò ānquán)`.
• Example 8:
  • 每个进入车站的旅客都要接受安全检查。
  • Pinyin: Měi gè jìnrù chēzhàn de lǚkè dōu yào jiēshòu ānquán jiǎnchá.
  • English: Every passenger entering the station must undergo a security check.
  • Analysis: `安全检查 (ānquán jiǎnchá)`, often shortened to `安检 (ānjiǎn)`, is a term you will encounter constantly when traveling in China.
• Example 9:
  • 戴安全帽是保护头部的重要措施。
  • Pinyin: Dài ānquánmào shì bǎohù tóubù de zhòngyào cuòshī.
  • English: Wearing a safety helmet is an important measure to protect your head.
  • Analysis: Another compound noun, `安全帽 (ānquánmào)`, literally “safety hat.”
• Example 10:
  • 这个软件安全吗？会不会有病毒？
  • Pinyin: Zhège ruǎnjiàn ānquán ma? Huì bù huì yǒu bìngdú?
  • English: Is this software safe? Could it have a virus?
  • Analysis: A practical question showing how to ask about the safety or security of something, in this case, a piece of software.

A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between `安全 (ānquán)` and `平安 (píng'ān)`.

• `安全 (ānquán)`: Refers to an objective state of being free from danger. It's factual and descriptive. It's used for rules, regulations, and technical specifications (e.g., `交通安全` - traffic safety, `食品安全` - food safety).
• `平安 (píng'ān)`: Means “safe and sound” or “peaceful.” It carries a much stronger emotional connotation of well-being, tranquility, and good fortune. It's often used as a wish or a blessing.

Common Mistake: Using `平安` where `安全` is required.

• Incorrect: `请注意交通平安。` (Qǐng zhùyì jiāotōng píng'ān.)
• Why it's wrong: Traffic rules are about objective safety, not a state of peacefulness.
• Correct: `请注意交通安全。` (Qǐng zhùyì jiāotōng ānquán.)

Correct use of `平安`:

• You would wish someone `一路平安 (yīlù píng'ān)` - “Have a safe and peaceful journey.”
• A common New Year's greeting is `岁岁平安 (suì suì píng'ān)` - “Peace and safety year after year.”

In short: Use `安全` for rules, conditions, and objective states. Use `平安` for wishes, blessings, and describing a state of peaceful well-being.

• 危险 (wēixiǎn) - The direct antonym of `安全`. It means “danger” or “dangerous.”
• 平安 (píng'ān) - “Safe and sound,” “peaceful.” A related but more emotional term, often used as a blessing.
• 安全感 (ānquángǎn) - A crucial psychological concept meaning “sense of security.”
• 安检 (ānjiǎn) - A common abbreviation for `安全检查` (ānquán jiǎnchá), meaning “security check.”
• 保安 (bǎo'ān) - “Security guard,” literally “protect peace/safety.”
• 保险 (bǎoxiǎn) - “Insurance,” which is a financial tool to manage risk and provide security. Literally “protect from danger.”
• 保护 (bǎohù) - The verb “to protect.” This is the action one takes to ensure `安全`.
• 稳定 (wěndìng) - “Stable,” “steady.” Social and economic stability are seen as prerequisites for a sense of `安全`.