Unsafe refers to a lack of security or the presence of potential risks in a given situation.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Describes a state lacking protection or stability.
- Used for both physical environments and emotional states.
- Commonly paired with verbs like 'feel' or 'be'.
Overview
- 1概览：‘不安全’是一个非常基础且实用的词汇，由否定前缀‘不’和形容词‘安全’组成。它不仅可以作为形容词描述状态，在特定语境下也可以作为名词性短语使用，表示‘缺乏安全感’或‘存在危险’的情况。2) 用法模式：在中文句法中，它常出现在‘感到不安全’（feel unsafe）、‘处于不安全状态’（in an unsafe state）或‘环境不安全’（the environment is unsafe）等结构中。它既可以修饰具体物体（如：不安全的建筑），也可以描述抽象的情感状态（如：心理上的不安全感）。3) 常见语境：在日常生活中，它常用于警告（如：这儿不安全，快离开）、职场汇报（如：该系统存在不安全因素）以及心理健康讨论中。4) 近义词辨析：与‘危险’（dangerous）相比，‘不安全’的语气相对客观且平和，侧重于‘缺乏保障’；而‘危险’则更强调‘直接的伤害威胁’。与‘不安’（uneasy/anxious）相比，‘不安全’更侧重于外部环境的客观缺陷，而‘不安’侧重于内心的主观情绪。
Examples
这个旧梯子很不安全。
everydayThis old ladder is unsafe.
我们需要评估该区域的安全等级，因为目前的环境很不安全。
formalWe need to assess the security level as the current environment is unsafe.
晚上一个人走夜路让我觉得很不安全。
informalWalking alone at night makes me feel unsafe.
数据传输过程中的不安全因素已被排除。
academicThe unsafe factors in the data transmission process have been eliminated.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
安全第一
Safety first
缺乏安全感
Lack of security
Often Confused With
Dangerous implies an active threat of harm. Unsafe implies a lack of safety precautions.
Uneasy focuses on internal emotional anxiety. Unsafe focuses on external conditions.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The term is used in both formal and informal registers. It is highly versatile, describing everything from software protocols to emotional well-being. Use it as an adjective or a predicate to modify nouns or describe states.
Common Mistakes
Beginners often use '危险' for everything. Remember that '不安全' is better for situations involving lack of maintenance or security systems. It is also common to forget the '感到' when expressing personal feelings of insecurity.
Tips
Use with 'feel' for emotions
When talking about feelings, use '感到不安全' to express personal insecurity. It helps clarify you are talking about emotions rather than physical danger.
Don't confuse with 'dangerous'
While related, 'unsafe' implies a lack of safety measures, whereas 'dangerous' implies active threat. Choose '危险' if someone is likely to get hurt immediately.
Contextual usage in public
In Chinese culture, directly calling a place 'unsafe' is a serious warning. Use it carefully when giving advice to others.
Word Origin
Derived from the character '安' (peace/calm) under a roof, combined with '全' (complete). Adding '不' negates the completeness of this peace.
Cultural Context
In China, safety is a high priority in public discourse. Labeling something as '不安全' is a strong signal that corrective action is required.
Memory Tip
Think of '不' (no) + '安全' (peace/safety). If there is 'no peace', the situation is 'unsafe'.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions“不安全”侧重于缺乏保护措施或存在隐患，语气较缓和；“危险”则意味着极有可能发生严重的伤害或事故，程度更深。
可以说“他感到很不安全”或“他缺乏安全感”。后者在描述心理状态时更为地道。
可以，例如在回答问题时：“这里安全吗？”“不安全。”
反义词是“安全”。
Test Yourself
由于没有锁门，这个房间看起来很不___。
描述环境缺乏保障，使用“不安全”最准确。
Score: /1
Summary
Unsafe refers to a lack of security or the presence of potential risks in a given situation.
- Describes a state lacking protection or stability.
- Used for both physical environments and emotional states.
- Commonly paired with verbs like 'feel' or 'be'.
Use with 'feel' for emotions
When talking about feelings, use '感到不安全' to express personal insecurity. It helps clarify you are talking about emotions rather than physical danger.
Don't confuse with 'dangerous'
While related, 'unsafe' implies a lack of safety measures, whereas 'dangerous' implies active threat. Choose '危险' if someone is likely to get hurt immediately.
Contextual usage in public
In Chinese culture, directly calling a place 'unsafe' is a serious warning. Use it carefully when giving advice to others.
Examples
4 of 4这个旧梯子很不安全。
This old ladder is unsafe.
我们需要评估该区域的安全等级，因为目前的环境很不安全。
We need to assess the security level as the current environment is unsafe.
晚上一个人走夜路让我觉得很不安全。
Walking alone at night makes me feel unsafe.
数据传输过程中的不安全因素已被排除。
The unsafe factors in the data transmission process have been eliminated.
