嚴 meaning and stroke order
Strict, rigorous, rigid; stern
How to write 嚴, stroke by stroke
20 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
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
Meaning of 嚴
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- tight (closely sealed)
- stern
- strict
- rigorous
- severe
- father
How 嚴 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 口 (mouth), shared by 428 characters on this site.
How to remember 嚴
Picture two mouths 口口 shouting orders from the top of a cliff 厂 at someone daring 敢 to break the rules. Two loud mouths over a bold person make a strict, stern scene.
嚴 (yán) is the traditional form of 严 and appears in words about strictness and seriousness, such as 嚴格 (yángé, strict) and 嚴重 (yánzhòng, serious). It also shows up in formal words like 尊嚴 (zūnyán, dignity) and 莊嚴 (zhuāngyán, solemn). Example: 老師很嚴。(Lǎoshī hěn yán.) The teacher is very strict.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 嚴重 (yánzhòng) and 嚴格 (yángé). 嚴重 describes how bad a situation is, like a serious illness, while 嚴格 describes how strict a person or rule is. Also, do not confuse the simplified 严 with 产 (chǎn), which looks similar at the top.
Common words with 嚴
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 嚴重 | yánzhòng | grave; serious; severe; critical | HSK 4 |
| 嚴格 | yángé | strict; stringent; tight; rigorous | HSK 4 |
| 嚴肅 | yánsù | (of an atmosphere etc) solemn; grave; serious; (of a manner etc) earnest; severe; exacting | HSK 5 |
| 嚴厲 | yánlì | severe; strict | HSK 5 |
| 嚴禁 | yánjìn | to strictly prohibit | HSK 7-9 |
| 尊嚴 | zūnyán | dignity; sanctity | HSK 7-9 |
| 嚴密 | yánmì | tight; strict; closely controlled; rigorous and thorough | HSK 7-9 |
| 莊嚴 | zhuāngyán | solemn; dignified; stately | HSK 7-9 |
| 嚴峻 | yánjùn | grim; severe | HSK 7-9 |
| 嚴謹 | yánjǐn | rigorous; strict; careful; (of writing) well organized; meticulous | HSK 7-9 |
| 嚴酷 | yánkù | bitter; harsh | |
| 戒嚴 | jièyán | to impose martial law; to impose emergency measures | |
| 嚴寒 | yánhán | bitter cold; severe winter | |
| 威嚴 | wēiyán | dignified; imposing |
Characters that contain 嚴
Learning 嚴 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 嚴
How many strokes are in 嚴?
嚴 is written with 20 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 嚴 mean?
嚴 (yán) means strict, rigorous, rigid; stern. A common word with it is 严重 (yánzhòng), meaning "grave; serious; severe; critical".
How do you pronounce 嚴?
嚴 is pronounced yán, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 嚴?
The radical of 嚴 is 口, which carries the idea of "mouth". Dictionaries list 嚴 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 嚴?
嚴 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 严, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 嚴肅 and 嚴厲?
嚴肅 (yánsù) means serious or solemn, describing a mood, attitude, or atmosphere. 嚴厲 (yánlì) means harsh or severe, usually describing how someone criticizes or punishes.
Why does 嚴 sometimes mean father?
In older and formal Chinese, 嚴 could refer to one's father, reflecting the idea of a stern parent. You may see 家嚴 (jiāyán) meaning my father in classical or very polite writing, but it is rare in everyday speech.