安堵

• Reading: あんど
• Romaji: ando
• Kanji breakdown: 安 (an) — peace, security, ease; 堵 (do) — wall, enclosure; together: settled peace
• Pronunciation: /a.ɴ.do/

Meaning

Relief; reassurance; peace of mind. The calming sensation that follows the resolution of anxiety or uncertainty.

Used as both a noun and a verbal noun (安堵する, to feel relieved). It describes the wave of relief that washes over a person when a feared outcome is avoided or a long-awaited good news arrives. Common collocations include 安堵のため息 (sigh of relief) and 安堵感 (sense of relief). Slightly more literary than 安心 in formal writing.

Examples

1. 手術が無事に終わったと聞いて、家族は安堵のため息をついた。 Hearing that the surgery had ended safely, the family breathed a sigh of relief.
2. 行方不明だった子どもが見つかり、親は安堵で涙を流した。 When the missing child was found, the parents wept with relief.
3. 試験に合格したと分かった瞬間、深い安堵が胸に広がった。 The moment she learned she had passed the exam, a deep sense of relief spread through her chest.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, medical situations, examinations, family

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese compound. 安 (an) means peace or security, 堵 (do) is an archaic term for a wall or enclosure, metaphorically suggesting the stability and safety of being within secure walls. The compound implies a settling-down into protected calm.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo Period

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal