Definition
保安 has two related senses: as a verb it means 'to ensure safety,' often in workplace/production contexts; as a noun it refers to a security guard. Compare with 公安 (gōng ān), which refers to the public security authorities/police force as an institution, and 治安 (zhì ān), which is the abstract concept of public order. While 公安 and 治安 describe systems or conditions, 保安 focuses on concrete, everyday safety measures and personnel.
verb
to ensure public securityto guarantee safety (especially in production or workplace contexts)
noun
security guard
Easily confused
- 报案bào ànsound-aliketo report a case to the authorities
Examples
- 保安。Gōngchǎng bìxū bǎo ān gōngrén de ānquán.The factory must ensure workers' safety.
- 保安。Nà wèi bǎo ān měitiān zài ménkǒu jiǎnchá zhèngjiàn.That security guard checks IDs at the entrance every day.
- 保安。Chāoshì bǎo ān bāng wǒ zhǎo dào le diū de dōngxi.The security guard at the supermarket helped me find the lost item.
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