Chinese Fun Stuff: Do you look “safe?”

Key Learning Point Preview：

安全 (ānquán) adj./n. safe/safety


Story: After spending the evening together, Lucy and Lily are saying goodbye and getting ready to go home.

            Zhème   wǎnle, wǒ yǒudiǎn hàipà!
Lucy：这么      晚了，我     有点     害怕！
            I’m a bit scared to go outside so late.

           Nǐ zhǎng de zhème ānquán! Méi shìr!
Lily：  你   长     得   这么   安全！   没  事儿！
           You look so safe. Don’t worry!

Key Learning Point：
安全(ānquán) adj./n. safe/safety


In Chinese, as in English, “safe” denotes an unthreatened situation — the opposite of being “in danger.” The word “safe” is used in a lot of word combinations. For examples: 人身安全 (rénshēn ānquán) personal safety, 处境安全 (chǔjìng ānquán)securely situated, and 安全距离 (ānquán jùlí) a safe distance. However, in daily communication, people also use the term “安全 (ānquán)“ to describe a person’s appearance. Saying that someone looks “safe” is another way of calling someone unattractive. Usually, it’s used as a joke or a way for people to laugh at themselves. Now, can you find the humor in what Lily says to Lucy?

For example:

Zhè niántóu, zhǎng de xiàng tā zhème ānquán de rén zhēn shì shǎo jiàn na!
这    年头，    长     得    像   他   这么  安全     的   人  真    是    少     见   哪！
Nowadays, it’s hard to find such a safe person (such an unattractive person)!

Practice:

Wǒ zhǎnɡ de zhème ānquán, búyònɡ dānxīn ānquán wèntí.
我      长     得   这么    安全，  不用      担心    安全     问题。


In this sentence, the first “安全” means (   ), the second “安全” means(   ).

A. unattractive
B. safety
C. beautiful
D. danger

Answer: A, B


Ref: http://resources.echineselearning.com/funstuff/funstuff-chinese-67.html