不安

• Pinyin: bù ān
• Hanzi breakdown: 不 = negation particle; 安 = 宀 (roof) + 女 (woman), meaning peace and safety

Meaning

Uneasy; anxious; restless. Describes a feeling of worry or discomfort.

Used to express inner unease, nervousness, or a sense that something is wrong. Common in emotional descriptions. Often used with 感到 (to feel) or 心里 (in one's heart). Can describe both mild worry and deep anxiety.

Examples

1. 考试前她心里感到非常不安。 She felt very uneasy before the exam.
2. 最近发生的事让大家都很不安。 What has happened recently has made everyone anxious.
3. 他不安地在房间里走来走去。 He paced around the room restlessly.

Usage Guide

Context: emotion, psychology, everyday

Tone: concerned

Do Say

• 她对未来感到不安。(She feels uneasy about the future.)
• 这个消息让我心里很不安。(This news makes me feel very anxious.)

Don't Say

• 这个椅子很不安 (Don't use 不安 to describe physical discomfort of objects — use 不舒服 for physical discomfort or 不稳 for unstable. 不安 is for emotional unease)

Origin & History

Compound of 不 (not) and 安 (peaceful, calm), literally 'not at peace.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal