yán

严

HSK 4Character · Adjective · Noun · Proper nounTraditional嚴

tight; strict; severe; father; surname

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

5 senses · 25 examples
1.

adjective

tight; close; strict (in secrecy)

neutral

Describes things that are firmly closed or people who keep secrets well.

Qǐng请
bǎ把
píng瓶
kǒu口
fēng封
yán严
le了
 ,
fáng防
zhǐ止
yè液
tǐ体
sǎ洒
chū出
lái来
 。

Please seal the bottle tightly to prevent the liquid from spilling out.

Tā他
zuǐ嘴
yán严
 ,
cóng从
lái来
bù不
bǎ把
gōng公
sī司
de的
mì秘
mì密
gào告
su诉
bié别
rén人
 。

He is tight-lipped and never tells the company's secrets to others.

Show 3 more examples
Biān边
jìng境
de的
jǐng警
jiè戒
hěn很
yán严
 ,
rèn任
hé何
rén人
dōu都
bù不
néng能
suí随
yì意
jìn进
chū出
 。

The border security is tight; no one can enter or exit casually.

Zhè这
fèn份
wén文
jiàn件
de的
bǎo保
mì密
cuò措
shī施
hěn很
yán严
 。

The confidentiality measures for this document are strict.

Tā她
bǎ把
mén门
chuāng窗
guān关
yán严
hòu后
cái才
lí离
kāi开
jiā家
 。

She closed the doors and windows tightly before leaving home.

2.

adjective

strict; stern; severe

neutral

Describes people's attitudes, rules, or punishments that are firm and not lenient.

Zhè这
wèi位
lǎo老
shī师
duì对
xué学
shēng生
yào要
qiú求
hěn很
yán严
 。

This teacher is very strict with students.

Wǒ我
men们
bì必
xū须
yán严
bàn办
zhè这
zhǒng种
wéi违
fǎ法
xíng行
wéi为
 。

We must severely punish this illegal behavior.

Show 3 more examples
Tā他
biǎo表
qíng情
yán严
sù肃
 ,
ràng让
rén人
bù不
gǎn敢
kào靠
jìn近
 。

His expression is stern, making people afraid to approach.

Gōng公
sī司
de的
jì纪
lǜ律
hěn很
yán严
 ,
chí迟
dào到
huì会
bèi被
kòu扣
gōng工
zī资
 。

The company's discipline is strict; being late will result in a salary deduction.

Fù父
mǔ母
yán严
jiā加
guǎn管
shù束
hái孩
zi子
de的
shàng上
wǎng网
shí时
jiān间
 。

Parents strictly control their children's online time.

3.

adjective

severe; intense; harsh

neutral

Describes extreme conditions like weather or punishment.

Yán严
dōng冬
shí时
jié节
 ,
běi北
fāng方
de的
qì气
wēn温
huì会
jiàng降
dào到
líng零
xià下
èr二
shí十
dù度
 。

In the severe winter, the temperature in the north drops to minus twenty degrees Celsius.

Shòu受
hán寒
liú流
yǐng影
xiǎng响
 ,
zhè这
jǐ几
tiān天
chū出
xiàn现
le了
yán严
hán寒
tiān天
qì气
 。

Affected by the cold wave, there has been harsh cold weather these days.

Show 3 more examples
Gǔ古
dài代
yǒu有
xiē些
zuì罪
fàn犯
huì会
shòu受
dào到
yán严
xíng刑
kǎo拷
dǎ打
 。

Some criminals in ancient times were subjected to severe torture.

Zhè这
chǎng场
bào暴
yǔ雨
lái来
de得
hěn很
měng猛
 ,
zào造
chéng成
le了
yán严
zhòng重
de的
shuǐ水
zāi灾
 。

This rainstorm came fiercely, causing severe flooding.

Tā他
yīn因
wèi为
fàn犯
le了
zhòng重
zuì罪
 ,
bèi被
pàn判
chǔ处
le了
yán严
xíng刑
 。

He was sentenced to severe punishment for committing a serious crime.

4.

noun

father (honorific)

literary

A traditional term for one's father, often used in formal or literary contexts.

Jiā家
yán严
jiào教
dǎo导
wǒ我
yào要
chéng诚
shí实
shǒu守
xìn信
 。

My father taught me to be honest and trustworthy.

Tā他
cháng常
shuō说
jiā家
yán严
duì对
tā他
de的
yǐng影
xiǎng响
hěn很
dà大
 。

He often says his father had a great influence on him.

Show 3 more examples
Jiā家
yán严
shēn身
tǐ体
yìng硬
lǎng朗
 ,
měi每
tiān天
dōu都
qù去
gōng公
yuán园
sàn散
bù步
 。

My father is in good health and goes for a walk in the park every day.

Tā他
xiě写
xìn信
gěi给
jiā家
yán严
 ,
huì汇
bào报
zì自
jǐ己
de的
xué学
xí习
qíng情
kuàng况
 。

He wrote a letter to his father, reporting his study situation.

Jiā家
yán严
shì是
yī一
wèi位
tuì退
xiū休
jiào教
shī师
 ,
hěn很
shòu受
zūn尊
jìng敬
 。

My father is a retired teacher and is highly respected.

5.

proper noun

surname Yan

neutral

Refers to the Chinese surname Yan.

Wǒ我
de的
tóng同
shì事
xìng姓
Yán严
 ,
dà大
jiā家
dōu都
jiào叫
tā他
Yán严
lǎo老
shī师
 。

My colleague's surname is Yan; everyone calls him Teacher Yan.

Yán严
xiān先
shēng生
shì是
zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
de的
zǒng总
jīng经
lǐ理
 。

Mr. Yan is the general manager of this company.

Show 3 more examples
Lì历
shǐ史
shàng上
yǒu有
hěn很
duō多
xìng姓
Yán严
de的
míng名
rén人
 。

There are many famous people with the surname Yan in history.

Tā她
jiè介
shào绍
zì自
jǐ己
shí时
shuō说
 :
 “
Wǒ我
xìng姓
Yán严
 ,
yán严
jǐn谨
de的
Yán严
 。
 ”

When introducing herself, she said: "My surname is Yan, the Yan meaning 'strict'."

Yán严
nǚ女
shì士
jīn今
tiān天
qǐng请
jià假
le了
 ,
méi没
lái来
shàng上
bān班
 。

Ms. Yan asked for leave today and didn't come to work.