稳 wěn steady
steady; stable; firm
How to remember 稳: 禾 grain + 急 urgent = steady. The farmer loads the sacks of grain onto the cart, and his son answers the urgent call and holds the ladder until it stands steady.
Component breakdown
稳 = 禾 grain + 急 urgent
- 禾 grain
- 急 urgent
- 刍 hay
- 心 heart
The farmer loads the sacks of grain onto the cart, and his son answers the urgent call and holds the ladder until it stands steady.
How it is used
- Adjective "steady, stable" - 稳定 (wěndìng) is by far the most common compound, used for prices, jobs, relationships, moods: 工作很稳定 "the job is stable".
- Also works as a resultative complement after a verb: 站稳 (zhàn wěn) "to stand firm/steady", 坐稳 (zuò wěn) "sit tight" - the verb shows the action, 稳 shows the stable result.
- 稳重 (wěnzhòng) describes a person's character as "steady, level-headed, prudent", a common compliment for someone mature beyond their years.
- 沉稳 (chénwěn) "composed, calm" is similar but leans more toward emotional steadiness under pressure.