安
Relax, Cheap
| on’yomi | kun’yomi | Radicals |
|---|---|---|
| あん | やす.い | 宀 + 女 |
Meaning: Relax, Cheap
You walk up to a woman with a helmet on her head. “Why are you wearing a helmet on your head?” you ask. “Because it helps me to stay relaxed,” she replies.
You can imagine her super relaxed right now. But, if you take off the helmet she flips out and starts attacking you, screaming. Put the helmet back on, and she falls over limp, super-duper relaxed.
Reading: あん
When she falls over again, super relaxed, you pull out her wallet and open it up (because obviously, this lady needs help). You find her name, it’s Anne (あん).
Say her name over and over as you’re trying to revive her (without pulling the helmet off, of course!). “Anne! Hey, you okay. Anne!?”
Vocabulary
In terms of traditional Japanese, the 宀 radical actually means ‘roof’ and 女 means the same thing. “Relax” is 安 because back in the day, you go back home under your roof where your wife is waiting. That’s terribly sexist, but will also give you another avenue of remembering this kanji, yeah?
a 安い（やすい）＝ Cheap
- Meaning: The same as the kanji (the cheap side)
- Reading: The kun’yomi reading. Try your best really quickly, but give this reading more focus later on when you’re using the study deck.
a 安心（あんしん）＝ Feel Relieved
- Combo: 安 (relax) + 心 (heart)
- Meaning: When your heart feels relaxed, you feel relieved.
- Reading: On’yomi readings.
a 安全（あんぜん）＝ Safety
- Combo: 安 (relax) + 全 (all)
- Meaning: When all is relaxed, you have safety.
- Reading: On’yomi readings.
a 不安（ふあん）＝ Uneasiness
- Combo: 不 (not-) + 安 (relax)
- Meaning: When you’re not relaxed, you feel uneasy.
- Reading: On’yomi readings of the kanji.
a 平安（へいあん）＝ Peace, Tranquility
- Combo: 平 (peace) + 安 (relax)
- Meaning: When you have both peace and you’re relaxed, you’ve got peace and tranquility
- Reading: The on’yomi readings.