不安
bù ān HSK 5

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

他看起来很不安。
Tā kàn qǐlái hěn bù'ān.
He looks very uneasy.
这个消息让我感到不安。
Zhège xiāoxi ràng wǒ gǎndào bù'ān.
This news makes me feel unsettled.
她不安地等待着结果。
Tā bù'ān de děngdàizhe jiéguǒ.
She waited uneasily for the result.
他感到不安。
Tā gǎndào bù'ān.
He feels uneasy.
我有点不安。
Wǒ yǒudiǎn bù'ān.
I feel a bit uneasy.

💡 Memory Tip

Break down the characters: 不 (bù) means 'not,' and 安 (ān) means 'peace' or 'calm.' So, 不安 literally means 'not peaceful'—a direct clue to its meaning of unease or disturbance. Think of it as the opposite of feeling 安心 (ānxīn, 'at ease').

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in formality and commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese. It frequently appears in contexts involving personal emotions, such as expressing concern over someone's safety, waiting for uncertain outcomes, or reacting to unsettling news. It can describe both temporary feelings and more prolonged states of anxiety.

📖 Grammar Points

不安 often functions as a predicate adjective, e.g., 她感到不安 (She feels uneasy). It can also modify nouns directly, e.g., 不安的心情 (uneasy mood). In sentences, it's commonly paired with verbs like 感到 (feel), 觉得 (think/feel), or 引起 (cause).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, openly expressing 不安 may be seen as a sign of caring or responsibility, especially in family contexts, as shown in the example about a wife worrying over her husband. However, excessive display of 不安 might be viewed as lacking composure, reflecting cultural values on maintaining emotional balance.

🔄 Similar Words

不安 is similar to 担心 (dānxīn, 'to worry') but focuses more on the internal feeling of unease rather than the act of worrying. Compared to 紧张 (jǐnzhāng, 'nervous'), 不安 implies a deeper, often more prolonged emotional disturbance, while 紧张 is more about temporary tension, like before an exam.

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