<p>Many words are used as different word type for convenience</p>
<p>For example, when the noun 鑽 (drill) was coined, it was convenient to use it as a verb for 'to drill' as well; when we have the existing adjective 哀傷 as in 哀傷往事(sad past), it is convenient to use it as a noun as in 這份哀傷 (this sadness)</p>
<p><em>The adjectival marker 的 can turn a noun or a whole phrase into an adjective. Also, many nouns can be turned into adjectives by adding other particles. For example 攻擊(n): attack --&gt; 攻擊性 (offensive) | 戲劇 (n): drama --&gt; 戲劇性 (dramatic)</em>. And standard nouns can be used as adjectival nouns as long as it makes sense (it is still a noun, but functions as an adjective for another noun). See <a href="https://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/23496">How to use nouns as adjectives?</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-09T12:34:25.583Z
2020-10-09T18:51:56.493Z
2020-10-09T18:51:56.493Z
Tang Ho
<p>The phenomenon can be found in other languages. Not sure why it surprises you.</p>
<p>Anyways, I just want to comment on your two examples.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>我找到我心里的安宁 // a very good sentence. (sounds a bit literary), but you might put it in a proper context or it sounds incomplete.  For completion, you might want to insert a 了: 我找到了我心里的安宁.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>他很安宁 // 安宁 is usually not used for a person directly，but it doesn't sound wrong and probably <em><strong>your creative writing(?)</strong></em>.  You can also say 他的心很安宁。今天的夜晚很安宁。or 两国边境很安宁。</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-09T11:25:10.283Z
2020-09-09T12:35:22.170Z
2020-09-09T12:35:22.170Z
dan
<p>This is just one of the many examples where I noticed this, but with these words, does that mean I can say something like:
我找到我心里的安宁 or something along those lines and treat it as if it were a noun, but at the same time can say something such as :
他很安宁 and treat it as an adjective? Or should I just use a different word altogether?
Thanks for the help</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-09T10:25:45.853Z
This thread is related [How to use nouns as adjectives?](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/23496)
blackgreen
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-09T11:31:37.077Z
@blackgreen The linked question is somehow 'related', but OP's question seems to be a rather different one.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-11T12:28:12.193Z
the calm before the storm
小奥利奥
<grammar><usage>
Why can some words such as 安宁 be either a noun or a adjective?
# Why can some words such as 安宁 be either a noun or a adjective?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-09-09)

This is just one of the many examples where I noticed this, but with these words, does that mean I can say something like:
我找到我心里的安宁 or something along those lines and treat it as if it were a noun, but at the same time can say something such as :
他很安宁 and treat it as an adjective? Or should I just use a different word altogether?
Thanks for the help

**Tags:** grammar, usage

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This thread is related [How to use nouns as adjectives?](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/23496)  
> **username_2**: @username_1 The linked question is somehow 'related', but OP's question seems to be a rather different one.  
> **username_3**: the calm before the storm  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2020-09-09. Score: 2

Many words are used as different word type for convenience

For example, when the noun 鑽 (drill) was coined, it was convenient to use it as a verb for 'to drill' as well; when we have the existing adjective 哀傷 as in 哀傷往事(sad past), it is convenient to use it as a noun as in 這份哀傷 (this sadness)

*The adjectival marker 的 can turn a noun or a whole phrase into an adjective. Also, many nouns can be turned into adjectives by adding other particles. For example 攻擊(n): attack --> 攻擊性 (offensive) | 戲劇 (n): drama --> 戲劇性 (dramatic)*. And standard nouns can be used as adjectival nouns as long as it makes sense (it is still a noun, but functions as an adjective for another noun). See [How to use nouns as adjectives?](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/23496)


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### Answer by username_2 on 2020-09-09. Score: 1

The phenomenon can be found in other languages. Not sure why it surprises you.

Anyways, I just want to comment on your two examples.

> 我找到我心里的安宁 // a very good sentence. (sounds a bit literary), but you might put it in a proper context or it sounds incomplete. For completion, you might want to insert a 了: 我找到了我心里的安宁.

> 他很安宁 // 安宁 is usually not used for a person directly，but it doesn't sound wrong and probably ***your creative writing(?)***. You can also say 他的心很安宁。今天的夜晚很安宁。or 两国边境很安宁。


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