严

嚴

yán

④ + 一 + 厂

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

yán (adjective) strict; stern; severe

yán (adjective) tight; closely sealed

Etymology

Simplified form of 嚴. Phonosemantic compound. 喦 represents the meaning and 敢 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "exaggerate". The meaning later shifted to "extreme", "severe", and "strict". The traditional component 敢 was removed for simplification.

About

严 is the simplified form of 嚴. Originally a phonosemantic compound, it combined the semantic component 喦 with the phonetic 敢, and its earliest meaning was "exaggerate". Over time, this shifted to "extreme", "severe", and "strict". The simplification removed the phonetic element 敢, leaving the current form. The character now consistently denotes strictness, severity, and rigorous control, describing harsh conditions, stern expressions, inflexible rules, and uncompromising enforcement.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

严冬非常寒冷。

Yán dōng fēicháng hánlěng.

The severe winter is very cold.

爸爸对我要求很严格。

Bàba duì wǒ yāoqiú hěn yángé.

My father is very strict with me.

这个问题很严重。

Zhège wèntí hěn yánzhòng.

This problem is very serious.

老师严肃地批评了他。

Lǎoshī yánsù de pīpíngle tā.

The teacher criticized him seriously.

公司制定了严格的规章制度。

Gōngsī zhìdìngle yángé de guīzhāng zhìdù.

The company has established strict rules and regulations.

两国关系正处于严峻的考验之中。

Liǎng guó guānxì zhèng chǔyú yánjùn de kǎoyàn zhī zhōng.

The relationship between the two countries is undergoing a severe test.

他对自己的言行一向严于律己。

Tā duì zìjǐ de yánxíng yīxiàng yán yú lǜ jǐ.

He has always been strict with himself regarding his words and actions.

这项研究采用了严密的方法论设计。

Zhè xiàng yánjiū cǎiyòngle yánmì de fāngfǎ lùn shèjì.

This research adopted a rigorous methodological design.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: ④

Component: 一

Component: 厂

Example Words