平

平安

Píng'ān

Safe And Sound

#peace

平píngflat; peaceful; equal

安ānpeace, safety, calm

平píngflat; peaceful; equal

安ānpeace, safety, calm

Meaning & Cultural Context

Sometimes the simplest wish is the most powerful. A name praying for safety above all else.

📖Cultural Background

平安 (Píng'ān) is one of the simplest yet most profound names in Chinese culture, meaning 'peace and safety.' It is a common wish for loved ones, especially during travel or in times of turmoil, as seen in the blessing '一路平安' (safe journey). This name is unisex and suitable for any character or real person, conveying a sense of calm and security. It is often used in modern contexts, but also appears in classical literature as a heartfelt wish. The name's simplicity makes it universally appealing and timeless.

Want a personalized Chinese name? Try our name generator!

Generate Mine

Comprehensive Name Score

Cultural Depth87

Each character has deep cultural significance with rich poetic and historical references

Phonetic Harmony90

Two-character name has good tonal rhythm. Moderate tonal variation. Adjacent syllables have well-contrasted tones

Character Beauty85

Balanced stroke complexity with elegant structure. Characters have well-balanced stroke counts

Element Balance65

Single five-element attribute (earth), pure but limited in variety

Modern Appeal85

Two-character name feels modern and stylish. Low total stroke count is minimalist and easy to write

Classical Poetry References

This name carries echoes of classical Chinese poetry:

「安得广厦千万间，大庇天下寒士俱欢颜」

How can I obtain ten thousand spacious mansions to shelter all the poor scholars of the world and bring them joy

— Du Fu, 'Song of My Thatched Roof Ruined by the Autumn Wind'

How can one obtain thousands of spacious rooms to shelter all the impoverished scholars of the world — Du Fu's compassionate heart for all people.

「此心安处是吾乡」

Wherever this heart finds peace, there is my homeland

— Su Shi, 'Calming the Waves'

Where the heart finds peace is home — the highest state of open-mindedness in life.

「春风又绿江南岸，明月何时照我还」

The spring breeze has greened the southern banks again; when will the bright moon light my journey home

— Wang Anshi, 'Moored at Guazhou'

Though the poem lacks the character '安' (peace), '还' (return) carries the meaning of returning to peace

The spring wind greens the south bank once more — when will the bright moon guide me home to reunite with family?

「岁岁平安，年年如意」

Peace year after year, wishes fulfilled season after season

— Chinese Traditional Blessing

Peace every year, and may all wishes come true — the most heartfelt and simple blessing.

「国安则民安，民安则国泰」

When the nation is at peace, the people are at peace; when the people are at peace, the nation prospers

— Chinese Traditional Philosophy

Only when the nation is stable can people live and work in peace; only when people are settled can the nation prosper.

Character Evolution

Explore how each character evolved over 3000+ years of Chinese writing history.

安

peace, safety, calm/ ān

Oracle Bone Script (甲骨文)~1600 BCE

In oracle bone script,「安」is vividly pictographic — under a roof (宀), a woman (女) kneels inside, meaning having a home to return to, safe and at peace.

Bronze Script (金文)~1046 BCE

In bronze script,「安」continues the「宀+女」structure with more regularized forms, emphasizing the original meaning that 'a woman at home means peace.' Spring and Autumn period bronzes already use the terms 'national security' and 'peace.'

Seal Script (小篆)~221 BCE

In seal script,「安」became further standardized —「宀」above like a sheltering roof,「女」below kneeling gracefully, signifying a stable, peaceful life. Xu Shen's 'Shuowen Jiezi' explains: 'An means tranquility — a woman under a roof.'

Evolution Summary

From oracle bone script over 3,000 years ago to modern simplified Chinese,「安」has maintained the stable structure of「宀+女」— a woman in a house represents home and peace of mind. It is one of the rare Chinese characters whose form has remained virtually unchanged for millennia.

▶Calligraphy Styles

Regular Script (楷书)

In regular script,「安」is narrow at top and wide at bottom, with the 'roof' radical elegantly spread — as seen in Ouyang Xun's dignified brushwork in the 'Jiucheng Palace' stele.

Running Script (行书)

In running script, the 'roof' radical and「女」component of「安」flow into each other — fluid yet composed. Mi Fu's running-script「安」reveals exceptional skill.

Cursive Script (草书)

In cursive script,「安」is reduced to the barest strokes — the「女」component becomes a single arc, as seen in Sun Guoting's 'Treatise on Calligraphy.'

Clerical Script (隶书)

In clerical script,「安」displays prominent 'silkworm head and swallow tail' strokes with a horizontal momentum, as in the graceful brushwork of the 'Cao Quan' stele.

Seal Script (篆书)

In seal script,「安」is symmetrically elegant — the roof above like a canopy, the woman below as if seated quietly — embodying the mysterious beauty of ancient script.