安慰

• Pinyin: ān wèi
• Hanzi breakdown: 安 = 宀 (roof) + 女 (woman) — peace, calm; 慰 = 尉 (official) + 心 (heart) — to comfort

Meaning

To comfort; to console; consolation. The act of soothing someone's sadness or anxiety, or the feeling of relief that comes from being comforted.

As a verb, means to comfort or console someone who is upset. As a noun or adjective, refers to consolation or the comforting feeling. Common phrases: 自我安慰 (self-consolation), 安慰奖 (consolation prize). Can describe both giving comfort and receiving it.

Examples

1. 她难过的时候，朋友们都来安慰她。 When she was sad, her friends all came to comfort her.
2. 听到这个消息，我感到很安慰。 Hearing this news, I feel very comforted.
3. 他说的那些话对我是一种安慰。 What he said was a kind of consolation to me.

Usage Guide

Context: emotional support, everyday, relationships

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 别难过了，我来安慰你。(Don't be sad, let me comfort you.)
• 看到孩子健康成长，我感到很安慰。(Seeing the child grow up healthy brings me great comfort.)

Don't Say

• 说'安慰他的身体'表示让他身体舒服 (Don't use 安慰 for physical comfort — use 舒服 or 放松; 安慰 is for emotional consolation)

Origin & History

安 (peaceful, calm) + 慰 (to comfort, to console). Together meaning to bring peace and comfort to someone.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal