安心 ānxīn · 放心 fàngxīn
Two ways to say “at ease” or “relieved” in Mandarin — and the subtle difference in what’s putting your mind at rest.
Both 安心 ānxīn and 放心 fàngxīn indicate a sense of peace or ease, but they have slightly different nuances and grammar.
安心 ānxīn
Stative Verb (Adjective) · General Calm安心 ānxīn emphasizes a feeling of calmness that results from a sense of safety and security. It’s often used to describe a general sense of well-being — like the calm of being with family, or the peaceful state of an animal at rest.
Subject + (很 / 非常) + 安心放心 fàngxīn
Verb · Specific Worry Resolved放心 fàngxīn indicates a “peace of mind” because there’s no longer a reason to worry or be anxious. It’s typically used about a specific situation or person that has been a source of worry — not a general mood.
Subject + 放心 + Object / ClauseStative verb vs. verb: 安心 ānxīn is a stative verb (adjective), while 放心 fàngxīn is a regular verb. That’s why “他做事，我非常安心” (I trust what he did) sounds natural with 非常, but “他做事，我非常放心” is technically ungrammatical — though native speakers do say it colloquially.
Common Pitfalls
放心 fàngxīn is mostly used in negative or interrogative sentences, rather than a plain affirmative statement. It can, however, be used affirmatively when giving a suggestion or reassurance.
Quick Comparison
| Word | Part of Speech | Core Meaning | Typical Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 安心 | Stative verb (adjective) | Calm from a general sense of safety / security | Subject + 很/非常 + 安心 |
| 放心 | Verb | Peace of mind about a specific worry, now resolved | Negative / interrogative, or a suggestion form |
Practice Quiz
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