厳
厳·strict, severe
- On-yomi
- ゲンゴン
- Kun-yomi
- きび(しい)おごそ(か)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 厳しい | きびしい | strict, harsh |
| 厳重 | げんじゅう | strict, stringent |
| 厳格 | げんかく | stern, rigid |
| 荘厳 | そうごん | solemn, majestic |
Example sentences
父はとても厳しい人です。
ちちはとてもきびしいひとです。
My father is a very strict person.
会場の警備は厳重だった。
かいじょうのけいびはげんじゅうだった。
Security at the venue was tight.
厳かな雰囲気の中で式が始まった。
おごそかなふんいきのなかでしきがはじまった。
The ceremony began in a solemn atmosphere.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
- 厳巌巌 (crag) is 厳 with 山 stacked on top; strip the mountain away and you are back to 厳, strictness.
Common mistakes
- Reading 荘厳 as そうげん — the ゴン reading survives here: そうごん
- Writing 厳しい as 厳い — the okurigana is しい
Memory aid
Picture it
A mouth barking orders under the cliff-like 严 top while the hand-with-stick 攵 stands ready on the right — the picture of severity.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 厳 mean?