About
The character 厉, in its traditional form 厲, originates from a pictograph depicting a cliff or rock face, with the component 萬, historically representing a scorpion, believed to serve primarily a phonetic function. Its earliest core meaning was that of a "whetstone", a hard stone used for sharpening blades, a concept from which its subsequent semantic developments logically extended. From this tangible object, the character's meaning broadened to encompass the abstract qualities of rigor, sharpness, and sternness, much like the action of the stone upon metal, giving rise to terms denoting strictness, severity, and austerity. This semantic field further evolved to include the sense of "to exert" or "to strive rigorously", as seen in words like 勉励, and also carried connotations of danger and menace, akin to the peril of a sharp edge or a precarious cliff, which persists in words such as 厉害. The modern simplified form 厉 retains the essential semantic element 厂 while simplifying the phonetic component, preserving the character's historical associations with sharpness, sternness, and intensity.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
她真的很厉害。
老师对学生很严厉。
他厉声地批评了我。
军队发动了凌厉的攻势。
政府厉行节约政策。
传说中这里有厉鬼出没。
他面带厉色地走了进去。
园区内厉禁吸烟。