平安
píngān · HSK 2
safe and sound
☮️ 平 = flat/level + 安 = peace; flat-and-peaceful = safe and sound
安 shows a 女 (woman) under a 宀 (roof) — sheltered, hence peace. Pair with 平 (flat, calm) and you get the steady, undisturbed calm of being safe and sound.
平 — horizontal stroke 一 + 干 with two dots 八
平 originally depicted a balance or scale being level, suggesting evenness. The horizontal lines and symmetrical dots evoke a flat, balanced surface. Over time it extended from 'level/flat' to broader senses like 'calm,' 'peaceful,' and 'ordinary.'
安 — roof 宀 + woman 女
A pictographic compound showing a woman 女 under a roof 宀, suggesting safety and tranquility at home. The original meaning 'peaceful, calm, safe' has remained stable since oracle bone script. It later extended to verbs like 'to settle' or 'to install'.