严 meaning and stroke order
Tight (closely sealed); stern; strict
How to write 严, stroke by stroke
7 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Meaning of 严
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- tight (closely sealed)
- stern
- strict
- rigorous
- severe
- father
How 严 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 一 (one), shared by 34 characters on this site.
How to remember 严
严 overlaps 亚 (yà) with a cliff 厂 (hǎn) sheltering it. Picture a strict guard standing under a hard rock cliff, stern and unmoving, so nothing gets past.
严 rarely stands alone in modern speech. It mostly appears in words like 严格 (yángé, strict), 严重 (yánzhòng, serious) and 严肃 (yánsù, solemn). Example: 老师对我们很严格。(Lǎoshī duì wǒmen hěn yángé.) The teacher is very strict with us.
Common mistake: Learners often use 严格 for problems, but a serious situation is 严重 (yánzhòng), not 严格. Also keep the second tone yán, and don't confuse the shape with 亚 (yà) alone, which lacks the 厂 cover.
Common words with 严
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 严重 | yánzhòng | grave; serious; severe; critical | HSK 4 |
| 严格 | yángé | strict; stringent; tight; rigorous | HSK 4 |
| 严肃 | yánsù | (of an atmosphere etc) solemn; grave; serious; (of a manner etc) earnest; severe; exacting | HSK 5 |
| 严厉 | yánlì | severe; strict | HSK 5 |
| 严禁 | yánjìn | to strictly prohibit | HSK 7-9 |
| 尊严 | zūnyán | dignity; sanctity | HSK 7-9 |
| 严密 | yánmì | tight; strict; closely controlled; rigorous and thorough | HSK 7-9 |
| 庄严 | zhuāngyán | solemn; dignified; stately | HSK 7-9 |
| 严峻 | yánjùn | grim; severe | HSK 7-9 |
| 严谨 | yánjǐn | rigorous; strict; careful; (of writing) well organized; meticulous | HSK 7-9 |
| 严酷 | yánkù | bitter; harsh | |
| 戒严 | jièyán | to impose martial law; to impose emergency measures | |
| 严寒 | yánhán | bitter cold; severe winter | |
| 威严 | wēiyán | dignified; imposing |
严 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 严
How many strokes are in 严?
严 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 严 mean?
严 (yán) means tight (closely sealed); stern; strict. A common word with it is 严重 (yánzhòng), meaning "grave; serious; severe; critical".
How do you pronounce 严?
严 is pronounced yán, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 严?
The radical of 严 is 一, which carries the idea of "one". Dictionaries list 严 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 严?
The traditional form of 严 is 嚴. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 严 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 严 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 严 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 严格 and 严厉?
严格 (yángé) means strict about rules and standards, like strict requirements. 严厉 (yánlì) describes a harsh, stern manner or punishment, like a severe tone of voice.
Why does 严 sometimes mean father?
In older and formal Chinese, 严 can refer to one's father, contrasting a strict father with a kind mother. You may see 家严 (jiāyán, my father) in formal writing, but it is not used in everyday speech.