CHENGYU
安然无恙(ān rán wú yàng)meaning, story and origin
- Register:
- neutral
- Source:
- 《战国策·齐策》
MEANING
- Literal
- safe and sound, without ailment
- Figurative meaning
- safe and sound after danger
ORIGIN STORY
In the Strategies of the Warring States, a messenger greets the Qi king with three questions: "Is the harvest free of blight? Are the people free of illness? Is Your Majesty free of ailment?" 恙 (yàng) is the ailment that never came.
NATURAL EQUIVALENT
“safe and sound”
EXAMPLES
地震之后，他们全家安然无恙。Dìzhèn zhī hòu, tāmen quán jiā ān rán wú yàng.HSK6
After the earthquake, the whole family was safe and sound.
飞机安全降落，乘客安然无恙。Fēijī ānquán jiàngluò, chéngkè ān rán wú yàng.HSK6
The plane landed safely; the passengers were unharmed.
COMMON MISTAKE
Watch out: Note the reading: 恙 is yàng. It means unharmed after a risk — not merely "calm".
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
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TRUST & SOURCES
- Reviewed by
- AI-assisted editorial review
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-15
- CC-CEDICT 2026-01-01