安

• Condition: Security and safety (including political or military stability) or psychological tranquility and calm.
• Action: Pacification (soothing a mind/spirit or suppressing rebellion to restore order); installation or placement (fixing an object firmly in place or formally appointing a person to an office).

In early texts, frequently functions as an interrogative pronoun meaning "how" (如何), and occasionally "where" or "why."

Contrast with 靜 (jìng): While 靜 typically refers to stillness or the absence of noise, 安 implies a state of security or stability.

Tang-period reading: *qɑn; Fanqie: 烏寒.

The glyph centers on the concept of "settledness." When translating, first determine if the glyph describes a condition (stable/safe), an action (pacifying/installing), or functions as a grammatical tool (how/where).