Definitions

(adjective) strict; severe
(adjective) harsh; stern

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

About

The character 厉, with its traditional form 厉, features the enclosing radical 厂, meaning a cliff. In the traditional version, the inner component 萬 serves as the phonetic element, simplified to 万 in the modern form. Its original meaning was a whetstone, an object used for sharpening blades, which implied harshness and abrasion. This concrete sense naturally extended to abstract qualities, such as sternness, strictness, fierceness, and severity.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 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)
Seal etymology image
Seal 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)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她真的很害。

Tā zhēn de hěn lìhai.

She is really awesome.

老师对学生很严

Lǎoshī duì xuéshēng hěn yánlì.

The teacher is very strict with the students.

声地批评了我。

Tā lìshēng de pīpíng le wǒ.

He criticized me in a stern voice.

军队发动了凌的攻势。

Jūnduì fādòng le línglì de gōngshì.

The army launched a swift and fierce offensive.

政府行节约政策。

Zhèngfǔ lìxíng jiéyuē zhèngcè.

The government strictly enforces austerity policies.

传说中这里有鬼出没。

Chuánshuō zhōng zhèlǐ yǒu lìguǐ chūmò.

Legend says that fierce ghosts haunt this place.

他面带色地走了进去。

Tā miàn dài lìsè de zǒu le jìnqù.

He walked in with a stern expression on his face.

园区内禁吸烟。

Yuánqū nèi lìjìn xīyān.

Smoking is strictly prohibited within the park.