严厉
Traditional: 嚴厲
yán lì HSK 6

English Meaning

📚 Example Sentences

老师对学生很严厉。
Lǎoshī duì xuéshēng hěn yánlì.
The teacher is very stern with the students.
政府采取了严厉措施。
Zhèngfǔ cǎiqǔle yánlì cuòshī.
The government has taken severe measures.
父亲的表情非常严厉。
Fùqīn de biǎoqíng fēicháng yánlì.
The father's expression is very stern.
老师很严厉。
Lǎoshī hěn yánlì.
The teacher is very strict.
父亲很严厉。
Fùqīn hěn yánlì.
The father is very stern.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 严 (yán) meaning 'strict' and 厉 (lì) meaning 'severe'—together, they intensify the sense of strictness. Imagine a stern teacher saying, 'YAN (言, speech) must be LIke (厉) a sharp warning.'

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in formality and can be used in both spoken and written Chinese. It is commonly applied in contexts involving authority figures (e.g., parents, teachers, leaders), rules, punishments, or criticism to emphasize seriousness.

📖 Grammar Points

Often used as an attributive adjective before nouns (e.g., 严厉的老师) or as an adverbial with 地 before verbs (e.g., 严厉地批评). It can also function as a predicate (e.g., 老师很严厉).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 严厉 is often associated with traditional values of discipline and respect for authority, such as in education or parenting. It can carry a nuance of being for someone's own good, though modern usage may view it as overly harsh.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 严格 (yángé, 'strict' but more about standards/rules) and 严肃 (yánsù, 'serious/solemn' in demeanor), 严厉 focuses more on severity in discipline or reprimand, often implying a harsh tone or consequence.

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