noun
safe tile (mahjong)
Mahjong term: a tile that can be discarded without risk of giving an opponent an advantage. Abbreviation of 安全牌.
See also: 安全牌
彼は安牌を切って、なんとか凌いだ。
He discarded a safe tile and managed to get by.
noun
safe choice; no-risk option; easily handled person
Idiomatic extension from mahjong: a person or option that poses no risk or is easy to deal with. Often used in business or social contexts.
See also: 安全牌
あの候補者は安牌だ。誰からも反対されない。
That candidate is a safe choice. Nobody will oppose him.
He's an easily handled subordinate for his boss.
Full form of 安牌; more formal and explicit. 安牌 is the common abbreviation.
Abbreviation of 安全牌 (あんぜんパイ), literally 'safe tile', from mahjong terminology. The figurative sense developed from the idea of a risk-free discard.