Peace and ease with 安
安 means “peaceful”, “calm”, or “safe”. It is also used to mean “cheap” (in terms of price).
Etymology
This kanji is traditionally explained as an ideogrammic compound comprised of 宀 (roof, house) and 女 (woman). These invoke imagery of a woman relaxing peacefully at home.
Peace of Mind
安心 (Relief)
安心 means relief, peace of mind, or feeling safe. It describes the mental state of no longer needing to worry.
It combines 安 (peaceful) with 心 (heart) to show a peaceful heart.
After returning home from work, Nishikata is ready to sit back and relax for a bit. Takagi leans over and asks Nishikata if he knows what day it is.
- 西片:
- 「あれ？何の日だっけ？」
- “Huh? What day is it again?”
- 高木:
- 「２人の記念日とかではないから安心して。」
- “Relax, it's not an anniversary or anything like that.”
不安 (Anxiety)
不安 means anxiety or unease, often a vague fear that something may go wrong.
It combines 不 (not) with 安 (peaceful) to show a lack of ease.
During a visit with Anzu’s family, Makoto receives a request to babysit for another witch. Things are fine at first, but after a while, rain begins to pour inside. Anzu’s mother realizes that the child they’re watching over has rain magic.
- 杏子の母:
- 「小さいうちはコントロールできないんだろうね。不安になると今みたいに降らせちゃうんだね」
- “You don't have control while you're small, right? When he's uneasy, it pours like just now.”
- 真琴:
- 「なるほど。そうですよね。いきなり知らない所じゃ心細いですよ。我慢してたんですね」
- “I see. So that's it. It's a little scary suddenly being in a place you don't know. You've been patient, haven't you?”
Safety and Public Order
安全 (Safety)
安全 means safety or freedom from danger, harm, or loss.
It combines 安 (safe) with 全 (whole, complete) to show a state of being completely free from danger.
At a nighttime festival, Sacchan, Yui, and Kotoha receive glowing star necklaces to wear. After some time, Sacchan’s mother arrives to pick them up.
- 結衣:
- 「あ 私のピカピカもう電池切れちゃった」
- “Ah, my sparkler's battery has already run out.”
- 母さん:
- 「あらま 光ってる方が安全でいいのに」
- “Oh dear, it's safer and better when it's lit up.”
治安 (Public order)
治安 means public safety and social order, especially the level of crime and disorder in an area.
It combines 治 (put in order) with 安 (peace) to show peace maintained by order.
Following Zen’s absence from school for a while, fights and disobedience have taken over the school grounds. When Lulu learns Zen hasn’t been at home either during this time, she travels to the mountains in search of him. After finding him, she explains the situation at school.
- ルル:
- 「転校してきてから慣れないことばかりで大変だったけど禅くんが学校を休んで学校の治安が悪くなって」
- “Since I transferred to this school, everything has been unfamiliar and difficult, but ever since you've started missing school, the school's security has gotten worse...”
Stability and Rest
安定 (Stability)
安定 means stability, with little risk of sudden change or disruption.
It combines 安 (peaceful) with 定 (settled, fixed) to show a peacefully settled state.
Coco and her friends are trapped in a maze and trying to find a way past a dragon. Seeing the others working out magic to use, Coco tries her hand at a spell, creating a flame. Agott isn’t impressed, but Tetia feels otherwise.
- テティア:
- 「炎が安定してる！」
- “The flame is stable!”
- 「前はすぐ落ちて燃え尽きちゃってたのにいつの間に！？」
- “It used to go out and burn out right away, so when did this happen!?”
- “The flame is stable!”
安静 (Rest)
安静 means quiet rest, especially while recovering from illness or injury.
It combines 安 (calm) with 静 (quiet) to show a calm and quiet state.
Wolf isn’t feeling up to patrolling. She sends a bird to call the doctor to visit her.
- 亀のおじいさん:
- 「熱は高くないようだし風じゃな」
- “It doesn't seem like you have a high fever, so it's probably just a cold.”
- 「しばらく安静にしてたら治るじゃろ」
- “If you rest for a while, you'll probably get better.”
- “It doesn't seem like you have a high fever, so it's probably just a cold.”
安泰 (Peace)
安泰 means safe, secure, and free from worry.
It combines 安 (at ease) with 泰 (peaceful) to give the word its sense of being at ease and peaceful.
During sports day, the events break for lunch. Lulu joins her friends, and they discuss the upcoming afternoon activities.
- 響子:
- 「騎馬戦は特に血の気が多いけど」
- “The cavalry battles are especially full of hot-blooded guys, though.”
- 清美:
- 「うちは番長がいるから安泰だよね～」
- “As long as the big boss is here, we're safe and sound, right~”