Anzen

Anzen is the Japanese noun meaning safety or security, defined as freedom from danger or harm. It is written with the kanji 安 (an) and 全 (zen) and is read as anzen in standard Japanese.

The term combines the ideas of peace and wholeness, signaling a state in which threats are minimized and well-being is preserved. As a general concept, anzen covers personal safety, public safety, and the reliability of systems, processes, and environments.

In everyday use, anzen appears in many common phrases. Examples include 安全第一 (anzen daiichi), meaning "safety first," 安全運転 (anzen unten) for "safe driving," and 安全性 (anzen-sei), referring to safety or safety characteristics. Terms like 安全対策 (anzen taisaku) denote safety measures, and 安全評価 (anzen hyōka) refers to safety assessment or evaluation.

In policy, industry, and education, anzen is a central metric for risk management and regulatory compliance. Standards bodies and governments frequently specify 安全基準 (anzen kijun) or 安全ガイドライン (anzen gaidorain) to articulate required safety levels. The concept also interfaces with related fields such as occupational safety, disaster preparedness, and product safety.

Related terms include 安全保障 (anzen hoshō), or national security, and 安全性 (anzen-sei), which emphasizes the inherent safety or risk profile of a product, system, or method. Across contexts, anzen remains a foundational notion in discussions of hazard, prevention, and protection.