严 (yán) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 严 (yán) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 严 (yán) means "Strict". It is an HSK Level 4 character, with 7 strokes and the radical 一.

Q: How do you write 严 stroke by stroke?

严 has 7 strokes. The radical is 一. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 严 and 且?

严 (yán) and 且 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 严?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 一. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 严?

Common words containing 严 include: 严格 (yán gé) — Strict / Rigorous; 严重 (yán zhòng) — Serious / Grave; 严厉 (yán lì) — Severe / Harsh.

How to Write 严

The character 严 (yán) is written with 7 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 一 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

严 is pronounced yán in Mandarin Chinese. It means Strict.

As an HSK Level 4 character, 严 is an intermediate-level character.

Common Words with 严

严格 yán gé

Strict / Rigorous

严重 yán zhòng

Serious / Grave

严厉 yán lì

Severe / Harsh

Example Sentences

老师对他很严格。

lǎo shī duì tā hěn yán gé

The teacher is very strict with him.

这个问题很严重。

zhè ge wèn tí hěn yán zhòng

This problem is very serious.

爸爸的表情很严厉。

bà bà de biǎo qíng hěn yán lì

Dad's expression is very stern.

Similar Characters

且 qiě

丕 pī

世 shì

Practice Writing 严 (yán)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 严 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 严

What does 严 (yán) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 严 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 严 and 且?

What mistakes do learners make writing 严?

What common words use 严?

How to Write 严 (yán)