安 – Meaning, Reading & Usage

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What does 安 mean in Japanese?

安 means “cheap, safe, peaceful” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 安い (cheap), 安全 (safety), and 安心 (relief; peace of mind).

For learners, the key is to study 安 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.

Reading

On’yomi: アン (an)

Kun’yomi: やす-い (yasu-i)

Basic Information

Kanji 安

How to Understand This Kanji

安 is not limited to one English translation. In 安い (やすい), it means cheap; in 安全 (あんぜん), it points to safety; and in 安心 (あんしん), it is used for relief; peace of mind. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.

Common Words

  • 安い（やすい / yasui） — cheap
  • 安全（あんぜん / anzen） — safety
  • 安心（あんしん / anshin） — relief; peace of mind
  • 不安（ふあん / fuan） — anxiety
  • 安定（あんてい / antei） — stability
  • 安売り（やすうり / yasūri） — discount sale

Example Sentences

  • この店は野菜が安いです。

    このみせはやさいがやすいです。 / Kono mise wa yasai ga yasui desu.

    Vegetables are cheap at this store.

  • 安全に気をつけてください。

    あんぜんにきをつけてください。 / Anzen ni ki o tsukete kudasai.

    Please be careful and stay safe.

  • 家に着いて安心しました。

    いえについてあんしんしました。 / Ie ni tsuite anshin shimashita.

    I felt relieved when I got home.

Related Kanji

  • 気

    — 安心 and 気 both describe inner states or feelings.

  • 悪

    — 安 contrasts with 悪 in positive/negative feeling and evaluation vocabulary.

  • 休

    — 安心 and 休 both connect with relief, rest, and safety.

When Learners Usually See This Kanji

Start with 安い (やすい / yasui) because it keeps the core meaning of 安 clear. Then add 安全 and 安心 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 安 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.

Summary

安 means “cheap, safe, peaceful” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 安い, 安全, and 安心.