安慰 (ānwèi)

安慰 means to comfort or console someone who is sad, worried, or distressed.

Meanings

[verb] to comfort; to console; to soothe
[noun] comfort; consolation; solace

Example Sentences

朋友的话给了她很大的安慰。 Péngyǒu de huà gěile tā hěn dà de ānwèi. Her friend's words gave her great comfort.

她失败后，家人纷纷赶来安慰她。 Tā shībài hòu, jiārén fēnfēn gǎn lái ānwèi tā. After she failed, her family all rushed over to comfort her.

有时候，一个拥抱胜过千言万语的安慰。 Yǒu shíhòu, yī gè yǒngbào shèngguò qiānyán wànyǔ de ānwèi. Sometimes a hug is better than a thousand words of comfort.

你不用担心，我只是想来安慰你一下。 Nǐ bù yòng dānxīn, wǒ zhǐshì xiǎng lái ānwèi nǐ yīxià. Don't worry; I just came to comfort you a little.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
给予安慰	to offer comfort
得到安慰	to receive comfort
精神安慰	emotional/spiritual comfort
安慰奖	consolation prize

Usage Notes

安慰 is used when someone is emotionally distressed and needs support. As a verb, it takes a person as its object. As a noun, it is often preceded by 给 (to give) or 得到 (to receive). The compound 安慰奖 (consolation prize) is a commonly used fixed expression in competitions.

Memory Hook

安 means "peaceful/calm" and 慰 means "to soothe/relieve" -- 安慰 is making someone's heart peaceful and soothed, i.e., comforting them.