Characters & Pinyin
安 (ān): peaceful, safe. Depicts a woman (女) under a roof (宀).
全 (quán): whole, entire, complete.
Example 1
安全第一。
Safety first.
Example 2
我觉得很安全。
I feel very safe.
词汇 Vocabulary
- 安全 : safe, safety
- 第一 : first, number one
- 觉得 : to feel, to think
- 很 : very
- 我 : I, me
语法 Grammar
Adjective as Predicate: In "我觉得很安全" (I feel very safe), "很安全" acts as the predicate. The adverb "很 (hěn)" often precedes adjectives when they function as predicates, though it can sometimes be a light intensifier or almost a grammatical particle. The verb "是 (shì)" (to be) is usually omitted in such cases.
Noun Phrase as Predicate: In "安全第一" (Safety first), "第一" (first) functions predicatively for the topic "安全" (safety). This is a common way to form slogans or state priorities.
Sentence Structure: "我觉得很安全" follows a Subject-Verb-Object/Predicate structure: 我 (Subject) + 觉得 (Verb) + 很安全 (Adjectival Predicate).
文化背景 Cultural Context
"安全第一 (Ān quán dì yī)" is a widely recognized and used slogan in Chinese society. You'll often see it in workplaces, construction sites, schools, and public transportation. It underscores a strong societal emphasis on prioritizing safety over other concerns like speed or cost in many situations.
The concept of "安全感 (ānquángǎn)", or "sense of security/safety," is also very important in Chinese culture, relating not just to physical safety but also to emotional and financial stability. Phrases like "我觉得很安全" directly tap into this fundamental human and cultural need.
Learning 安全 (ān quán) is crucial for anyone living or traveling in a Chinese-speaking environment, as it appears in many warnings, instructions, and daily conversations related to well-being.
