Understanding "保险" - Chinese Word Explanation

1. Basic Information

• Word: 保险
• Pinyin: bǎo xiǎn
• Literal Meaning: "Protect" (保) + "Danger/Risk" (险)
• Primary Meaning: Insurance (a financial product that provides protection against risks or losses).

2. In-depth Explanation

Context and Usage

The word 保险 (bǎo xiǎn) is used in contexts related to financial or safety protection, similar to the English word "insurance." It can refer to various types of insurance, such as health insurance (健康保险, jiànkāng bǎoxiǎn), car insurance (汽车保险, qìchē bǎoxiǎn), or life insurance (人寿保险, rénshòu bǎoxiǎn).

In informal speech, it can also mean "safe" or "reliable" (e.g., "这样做很保险" – "This way is very safe/reliable").

Character Breakdown

• 保 (bǎo): Means "to protect," "to guarantee," or "to maintain."
• 险 (xiǎn): Means "danger," "risk," or "peril."

Together, the characters imply "protection against danger."

3. Example Sentences

1. Chinese: 我买了一份健康保险。
   Pinyin: Wǒ mǎi le yī fèn jiànkāng bǎoxiǎn.
   English: I bought a health insurance policy.

2. Chinese: 开车时系安全带是为了保险。
   Pinyin: Kāichē shí xì ānquán dài shì wèile bǎoxiǎn.
   English: Wearing a seatbelt while driving is for safety (insurance).

3. Chinese: 这家公司的保险服务很好。
   Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī de bǎoxiǎn fúwù hěn hǎo.
   English: This company’s insurance services are very good.

Cultural Notes

In China, insurance has become increasingly important due to rising healthcare costs and car ownership. The government mandates certain types, like social insurance (社保, shèbǎo), while private insurance is also growing in popularity. Historically, family and community support acted as a form of "insurance," but modern systems are now more formalized.

Conclusion

保险 (bǎo xiǎn) means "insurance" and combines the ideas of protection (保) and risk (险). It is used in financial, safety, and reliability contexts. Remember it as "safeguarding against danger."