ānníng: 安宁 - Peaceful, Tranquil, Calm

• Keywords: ānníng, 安宁, meaning of anning, Chinese word for peace, tranquil in Chinese, peaceful in Chinese, serenity, calm, 安宁 vs 和平, 安宁 vs 平静, Chinese culture, inner peace.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 安宁 (ānníng), a core Chinese concept describing a deep sense of peace, tranquility, and serenity. More than just “quiet,” `安宁` refers to a stable state of calm for the environment, society, and the inner self. This guide explores its cultural roots, modern usage, and key differences from similar terms like `和平 (hépíng)` (peace, no war) and `平静 (píngjìng)` (calm). Learn how to use `安宁` to express a desire for a tranquil life, describe a serene place, or wish someone inner peace.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): ānníng
• Part of Speech: Adjective, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A state of being peaceful, tranquil, and free from disturbance.
• In a Nutshell: `安宁` is the feeling of a quiet forest, a peaceful home, or a mind free from anxiety. It’s a profound and stable sense of calm that applies to one's surroundings (a tranquil environment), society (social order), or one's heart (inner peace). It combines the ideas of safety, stability, and quietness into one powerful concept of serene well-being.

• 安 (ān): This character is a pictogram of a woman (女) under a roof (宀). In ancient China, a woman safe at home symbolized security, stability, peace, and safety. It forms the foundation of the word's meaning: a sense of being protected and at ease.
• 宁 (níng): The traditional form is 寧. This character is more complex, combining a roof (宀), a heart (心), a dish (皿), and a stand (丁). It paints a picture of a heart at ease within a secure home, with its needs met. It signifies deep-seated contentment and tranquility.

Together, 安 (ān) + 宁 (níng) create a powerful compound word that means more than the sum of its parts. It's a double-layered peace: the external safety of 安 combined with the internal contentment of 宁, resulting in a profound and undisturbed state of tranquility.

In Chinese culture, `安宁` is a highly valued state of being, deeply influenced by Daoist and Buddhist philosophies that emphasize harmony, stillness, and inner peace over material ambition. It is not just a fleeting mood but a life goal—to cultivate a heart and live in an environment that is free from turmoil and strife. Comparison with “Peace” in Western Culture: While the English word “peace” can be a good starting point, it doesn't fully capture the essence of `安宁`.

• “Peace” is often defined by an absence of a negative, such as “peace” being the absence of war (a concept better captured by the Chinese word 和平 (hépíng)) or “peace and quiet” being the absence of noise.
• `安宁` is a positive, substantive state. It is the *presence* of tranquility, stability, and security. A country can be at `和平` (peace) with its neighbors but its society may lack `安宁` (tranquility) due to social unrest.

The Western “pursuit of happiness” is often an active, dynamic quest. In contrast, the pursuit of `安宁` is often about subtraction—removing desires, anxieties, and disturbances to arrive at a natural state of serene contentment. It reflects a cultural value placed on balance, stability, and inner harmony.

`安宁` is a versatile word with a slightly formal and literary tone, but it's used in many everyday situations.

• Describing Places: It's perfect for describing a place that is both quiet and has a peaceful atmosphere.
• e.g., a quiet neighborhood, a serene temple, a tranquil park.
• Describing a State of Being: It is often used to describe a person's life, heart, or even their passing.
• e.g., “to live a peaceful life” (过安宁的生活), “to find inner peace” (找到内心的安宁).
• Formal and Official Contexts: You will hear it in news reports or official statements regarding social order.
• e.g., “to protect social stability and peace” (维护社会安宁).
• Connotation: It is overwhelmingly positive. It evokes a feeling of safety, comfort, and deep calm.

• Example 1:
  • 这个小村庄的夜晚特别安宁。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xiǎo cūnzhuāng de yèwǎn tèbié ānníng.
  • English: The nights in this small village are especially tranquil.
  • Analysis: Here, `安宁` is used as an adjective to describe the peaceful and quiet atmosphere of a place.
• Example 2:
  • 他唯一的愿望就是过上安宁的生活。
  • Pinyin: Tā wéiyī de yuànwàng jiùshì guò shàng ānníng de shēnghuó.
  • English: His only wish is to live a peaceful life.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows `安宁` describing a desired quality of life—one free from stress, drama, and disturbance.
• Example 3:
  • 读书可以给我带来内心的安宁。
  • Pinyin: Dúshū kěyǐ gěi wǒ dàilái nèixīn de ānníng.
  • English: Reading can bring me inner peace.
  • Analysis: `安宁` is used here as a noun, referring to the state of inner tranquility or peace of mind. `内心 (nèixīn)` means “inner heart.”
• Example 4:
  • 警察的职责是保护公民和维护社会安宁。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá de zhízé shì bǎohù gōngmín hé wéihù shèhuì ānníng.
  • English: The duty of the police is to protect citizens and maintain social tranquility.
  • Analysis: This is a formal usage. `安宁` refers to public order and a peaceful, stable society.
• Example 5:
  • 奶奶在睡梦中安宁地去世了。
  • Pinyin: Nǎinai zài shuìmèng zhōng ānníng de qùshì le.
  • English: Grandma passed away peacefully in her sleep.
  • Analysis: `安宁` is often used as a gentle and respectful euphemism to describe a peaceful death, free from pain or struggle. It's similar to `安详 (ānxiáng)`.
• Example 6:
  • 愿逝者安息，生者安宁。
  • Pinyin: Yuàn shìzhě ānxī, shēngzhě ānníng.
  • English: May the deceased rest in peace, and may the living be at peace.
  • Analysis: This is a common phrase of condolence. It contrasts `安息 (ānxī)` (rest in peace, for the dead) with `安宁` (peace and tranquility, for the living).
• Example 7:
  • 我们好不容易才找到了一个如此安宁的海滩。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen hǎobù róngyì cái zhǎodào le yí ge rúcǐ ānníng de hǎitān.
  • English: After much difficulty, we finally found such a tranquil beach.
  • Analysis: This emphasizes that `安宁` is a desirable quality for a place, suggesting it is free from crowds and noise.
• Example 8:
  • 别打扰他的安宁，他正在思考重要的事情。
  • Pinyin: Bié dǎrǎo tā de ānníng, tā zhèngzài sīkǎo zhòngyào de shìqing.
  • English: Don't disturb his peace; he is thinking about something important.
  • Analysis: Here, `安宁` is a noun referring to a person's state of quiet concentration.
• Example 9:
  • 战后，人民终于迎来了渴望已久的安宁。
  • Pinyin: Zhànhòu, rénmín zhōngyú yínglái le kěwàng yǐ jiǔ de ānníng.
  • English: After the war, the people finally welcomed the long-awaited peace and tranquility.
  • Analysis: This shows the relationship between `和平` (the end of the war, implied) and the resulting `安宁` (the peaceful state of society).
• Example 10:
  • 她的脸上带着一种安宁的微笑。
  • Pinyin: Tā de liǎn shàng dàizhe yī zhǒng ānníng de wēixiào.
  • English: She wore a serene smile on her face.
  • Analysis: `安宁` can describe a person's expression or demeanor, indicating they are calm, content, and free from worry.

A common mistake for learners is to confuse `安宁` with similar-sounding “peace” words.

• `安宁` vs. `和平 (hépíng)`
  • `安宁 (ānníng)`: Tranquility, serenity (of an environment, society, or mind).
  • `和平 (hépíng)`: Peace, as in the absence of war or conflict. It's used on a macro, political scale.
  • Incorrect: ~~我们希望世界安宁。~~ (Wǒmen xīwàng shìjiè ānníng.)
  • Correct: 我们希望世界和平。 (Wǒmen xīwàng shìjiè hépíng.) - We hope for world peace.
  • Correct: 这个国家虽然处于和平时期，但社会并不安宁。 (This country is at peace, but its society is not tranquil.)
• `安宁` vs. `平静 (píngjìng)`
  • `安宁 (ānníng)`: A deep, stable state of peacefulness. It has a sense of security.
  • `平静 (píngjìng)`: Calm, usually temporary. It describes a surface (calm water) or an emotion (a calm mood). It means “not agitated.”
  • Incorrect: ~~请你安宁一下！~~ (Qǐng nǐ ānníng yíxià!)
  • Correct: 请你平静一下！ (Qǐng nǐ píngjìng yíxià!) - Please calm down!
  • Context: After a big argument, you would tell someone to become `平静` (calm). After a long, stressful week, you might go to the mountains to seek `安宁` (tranquility).
• `安宁` vs. `安静 (ānjìng)`
  • `安宁 (ānníng)`: Tranquil and peaceful (includes quietness + a feeling of safety/serenity).
  • `安静 (ānjìng)`: Quiet, the absence of sound.
  • Context: A library is `安静` (quiet). A secluded mountain lake is both `安静` (quiet) and `安宁` (tranquil). You ask a noisy classroom to be `安静`, not `安宁`.

• 和平 (hépíng) - Peace (as in the absence of war). The macro-level condition that allows for `安宁`.
• 平静 (píngjìng) - Calm. A more temporary and surface-level state compared to the deep stability of `安宁`.
• 安静 (ānjìng) - Quiet, silent. Focuses specifically on the lack of noise, which is a component of `安宁`.
• 安详 (ānxiáng) - Serene, composed. Very similar to `安宁`, but often used to describe the peaceful expression of an elderly person or someone who has passed away.
• 稳定 (wěndìng) - Stable, steady. Social `稳定` is a prerequisite for social `安宁`.
• 安逸 (ānyì) - Easy and comfortable. Describes a life of comfort, which is often also `安宁`, though `安逸` can sometimes imply idleness.
• 清静 (qīngjìng) - Quiet and secluded. Describes a place that is pleasantly free from noise and disturbance, very close in meaning to `安宁` when describing an environment.
• 祥和 (xiánghé) - Auspicious and harmonious. Describes a peaceful, happy, and positive atmosphere, often used for festivals or communities.