The character 安 — “calm”: how to write it and what it means
calm, safe
The Chinese character 安 is read ān and means “calm, safe”. Below: the stroke order step by step, what the character is made of and the words it appears in.
Stroke order: how to write 安
安 has 6 strokes. At each step the new stroke is highlighted — write them in the same order: top to bottom and left to right, horizontal before vertical, a frame before what is inside it, and the bottom stroke of the frame last.
To train your hand, print a handwriting sheet for 安, with strokes to trace and empty squares.
What 安 is made of
On top, 宀 “roof”; under it, 女 “woman”.
The parts of a character hint at its meaning or its reading — more in the article “Chinese character radicals”.
Words with 安
- 安静quiet, calmHSK 3
- 安全safeHSK 3
- 晚安good nightHSK 4
- 安排arrange, planHSK 4
- 安检security check (at the airport)HSK 4
- 保安security guard; securityHSK 5
- 安慰comfort; consolationHSK 5
- 安装install (equipment, software)HSK 5
- 平安safe, wellHSK 5
- 安全带seat beltHSK 5
- 不安uneasy, anxiousHSK 6
- 公安public security; policeHSK 6
Frequently asked questions
How do you write the character 安?
安 has 6 strokes. They follow the usual rules: top to bottom, left to right, horizontal before vertical, outside before inside. The order of each stroke is shown on this page.
What does 安 mean?
安 means “calm, safe”. It appears in 安静 (“quiet”), 安全 (“safe”), 晚安 (“good night”), 安排 (“arrange”).
How do you pronounce 安?
安 is read ān. The tone is part of the reading: with another melody it becomes another syllable.
How many strokes does 安 have?
6 strokes.
More characters on the page “Chinese characters with meanings” and in the list of HSK characters by level; whole words are in the dictionary.
Write 安 yourself
In the lessons you write characters stroke by stroke with a finger or a mouse, and the course checks the order. You can start for free, no sign-up needed.
Start for free