Who doesn't want to feel secure? Unless one is masochist, has a close affinity to edges, or simply believes in a groundless existence, anquangan is a desirable human condition. Still, despite its universal appeal, the frequency and contexts in which it is used vary between different regions and circumstances. In war zones 'security' is strongly associated with human lives, while in poor areas it refers normally to decent health, public services and bread on one's table.

In China, anquangan can be used in different contexts. A recent survey by the Beijing municipality examined the level of anquangan sensed by its residents, in other words, asking how Beijingers perceive the crime level in the city.

Still, anquangan is usually used in a more metaphorical way in daily discussions and throughout the Chinese World Wide Web, and doesn't refer simply to physical conditions. Having a university diploma, a stable job, a decent salary and some nice assets (an apartment!) are all urban Chinese synonyms for anquangan.

Men strive to obtain it, but oftentimes it seems that the anquangan discourse is associated with women, while Chinese men are responsible to supply such comfort to the prettier sex. In a survey conducted by the psychology center in Shandong University, female students were asked about desired qualities in their future male spouse. Anquangan appeared frequently, in various formats.

Chinese women (and this is a rather universal female characteristic) need to feel secure in their couple on several levels: Feeling loved, desired and knowing that their second half (lingyiban 另一半) is sincere and faithful. This is the more romantic sense, while needing financial stability in the form of a well-earning, serious and responsible husband is the more practical aspect. Though anquangan is often a nicer way to express materialistic desires, this term also reflects an inevitable link between romance and finance. 

The stressful socioeconomic reality of modern China plays a major role and intensifies some phenomena that certainly exist in other societies as well. Low salaries, numerous of applicants for every job position, 'sky price' (天价 tianjia) apartments - These are all factors that light up the anquangan discourse and make it so widespread. Such conditions also make the need of financial security merge with the need of love inside women's hearts. It is an expression most associated with the 80hou (post 80s) generation, but it has to do with Chinese in any age that experience the post 1980 modern Chinese reality.