Synonym of Serious in Chinese

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嚴格 · 嚴肅 · 嚴重 — 近義詞辨析
Similar words

严格 yángé · 严肃 yánsù · 严重 yánzhòng

Three ways to say “serious” or “strict” in Mandarin — and how each one targets a different kind of seriousness.

The words 严格 yángé, 严肃 yánsù, and 严重 yánzhòng all relate to the idea of “strictness” or “seriousness,” but they have different meanings and usage contexts.

一

严格 yángé

Strict, Rigorous

Emphasizes strictness in rules, standards, or requirements. It is often used to describe regulations, discipline, or people’s approach to rules.

他tā对duì自己的zìjǐ de要求yāoqiú非常fēicháng严格yángé。
He has strict standards for himself.
老师lǎoshī总是zǒngshì很hěn严格yángé地de检查jiǎnchá我的wǒ de作业zuòyè。
The teacher always checks my homework very strictly.
公司gōngsī对duì产品chǎnpǐn质量zhìliàng实施shíshī严格yángé控制kòngzhì。
The company enforces strict control over product quality.
这所zhè suǒ学校的xuéxiào de纪律jìlǜ非常fēicháng严格yángé。
This school’s discipline is very strict.
二

严肃 yánsù

Serious Attitude / Atmosphere

Describes a serious, solemn attitude, atmosphere, or personality. It can refer to someone’s expression, a formal occasion, or a discussion.

老师lǎoshī严肃yánsù地de看著kànzhe我wǒ，害hài我wǒ不敢bùgǎn说话shuōhuà。
The teacher looked at me seriously, making me afraid to speak.
我wǒ爸爸bàba是shì一位yí wèi非常fēicháng严肃yánsù的de人rén，我wǒ几乎jīhū没méi看过kànguò他tā笑xiào。
My dad is a very serious person; I’ve hardly ever seen him smile.
会议上huìyì shàng老板的lǎobǎn de态度tàidù很hěn严肃yánsù，没有人méiyǒurén敢gǎn开玩笑kāiwánxiào。
The leader had a serious attitude in the meeting, and no one dared to joke.
他tā总是zǒngshì用yòng严肃yánsù的de表情biǎoqíng跟gēn学生xuéshēng说话shuōhuà。
He always speaks to students with a serious expression.
三

严重 yánzhòng

Severe, Grave

Describes the severity of a situation, problem, or consequence. It is often used for negative things like illnesses, mistakes, or accidents.

这是zhè shì一个yí ge很hěn严重yánzhòng的de问题wèntí，你nǐ应该yīnggāi赶快gǎnkuài处理chùlǐ。
This is a very serious problem; you should handle it as soon as possible.
这zhè几年jǐnián空气kōngqì污染wūrǎn的de情况qíngkuàng越来越yuèláiyuè严重yánzhòng了le。
The air pollution situation has become increasingly severe over the past few years.
他的tā de伤shāng很hěn严重yánzhòng，需要xūyào马上mǎshàng送sòng医院yīyuàn。
His injury is severe and needs to be taken to the hospital immediately.
这场zhè chǎng车祸的chēhuò de伤亡shāngwáng非常fēicháng严重yánzhòng。
The casualties from this car accident were very severe.
04  ·  At a Glance

Quick Comparison

WordCore MeaningTypical Use
严格yángé strict, rigorous rules, standards, discipline
严肃yánsù serious (attitude / atmosphere) expression, tone, occasion
严重yánzhòng severe, grave problems, illness, accidents
05  ·  Practice

Practice Quiz

PRACTICE QUIZ Question 1 of 10
This company has very strict rules about attendance.
这家zhè jiā公司gōngsī对duì出勤的chūqín de规定guīdìng非常fēicháng    。
The doctor looked at me seriously and told me to quit smoking.
医生yīshēng    地de看著kànzhe我wǒ，叫jiào我wǒ戒烟jièyān。
His illness has gotten more severe recently.
他的tā de病bìng最近zuìjìn变得biàn de更gèng    了le。
Parents nowadays are stricter about their children’s phone use.
现在的xiànzài de父母fùmǔ对duì孩子háizi使用shǐyòng手机的shǒujī de规定guīdìng很hěn    。
The atmosphere at the funeral was very solemn.
葬礼的zànglǐ de气氛qìfēn非常fēicháng    。
This is a serious mistake that could affect the whole project.
这是zhè shì一个yí ge    的de错误cuòwù，可能kěnéng会huì影响yǐngxiǎng整个zhěng ge计划jìhuà。
The coach is very strict with the athletes during training.
教练jiàoliàn训练时xùnliàn shí对duì运动员yùndòngyuán非常fēicháng    。
He suddenly became serious and stopped joking around.
他tā突然tūrán变得biàn de很hěn    ，不再bú zài开玩笑kāiwánxiào了le。
The flooding this year is more severe than last year.
今年的jīnnián de水灾shuǐzāi比bǐ去年qùnián更gèng    。
This university has very strict admission requirements.
这所zhè suǒ大学的dàxué de入学rùxué要求yāoqiú非常fēicháng    。
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