A very warm Chinese character An1

It’s time to start the Chinese class for kids online in our “Happy Chinese” language online lessons. I am your Chinese teacher Mr. Li. I am very pleased to introduce today’s key word and I believe that this word is as important as some other Chinese expressions of language such as Xie4 Xie4(thank you), Ni3 Hao3 (hello).

Before we start, I would like to give you a riddle whose answer is related with today’s key word. 家在上头，好在前头(jia1 zai4 shang4 tou, hao3 zai4 qian2 tou). In English, “keeping the upper part of Jia1 (home), and the left part of Hao3 (good).” What is this character? Yes, it is 安(an1) in modern Chinese characters. So what would you think of when it comes to this character?

The historical way to get across this word and to learn Chinese online for kids is very important. Firstly, let us learn its process of evolvement in Chinese history. In Oracle bone scripts, the character of An1 (safety) is a ideograph. The upper part of it stands for a house, and the lower part is a pictogram being another character woman. Actually, a woman does her duty at home, meaning staying calm and peaceful. Of course, in bronze scripts and small seal scripts, that character had deformed.

According to ancient Chinese culture, what is the meaning of being an adult man? Building a house, having a home of his own and marrying a woman are the answer. Therefore, the character An1 actually means a rather stable state. The idea of An1 (safety) is deep-seated in China. On account of this, in China, An1 is either a surname or a name of some place such as Xi’an (Chang2 an1 in ancient times), Tai4 an1 in Shan dong province,

In order to better understand the character An1, let us make some easy phrases of Chinese for children that are related with today’s key word An1. For example, 安全感（An1 quan2 gan3）. It refers to a sense of safety from your deep heart. 请安(qing3 an1). It means paying respects to others. However, qing3 an1 is not a rite exclusive to minorities in Chinese culture. Its ways varied a lot by posing different body language. I believe that each country in the world has its own way to extend greetings to others, sending best wishes to them. 

And how Chinese people pursue an everlasting state of safety? There have been an auspicious item called Ping2 an1 fu2 (amulet). In the past, on one hand, the elders would give the new bone baby a long-life lock or an amulet, praying their offspring lead a long life. On the other hand, before a soldier went to the battle field, his wide would sew an amulet in his husband’s cloth on her own, hoping that they can reunite after the war.

Have you learnt today’s key word An1? This is the end of today’s mandarin class for kids. We want to extend you best wishes to your health and life. 

Source: 

http://chineselanguage.bloggets.net/-very-warm-chinese-character-an1/