严
Character learning workspace

yán · strict, rigorous, rigid

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 3.0 · Level 6Frequency #5871
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 严

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

Interactive stroke trainerWatch and inspect
Checking daily allowance…Please waitGo unlimited
Loading strokes…
0 strokes
Choose Watch order or Practice writing
Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 严 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

Loading stroke diagrams…

Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

7Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Top-middle-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the whole form centered inside the writing square.

一Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 严 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

Preparing worksheet…
Customize

Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 严

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

yánWords pronounced yán
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 严 sits in each complete thought.

Tā zài zhè fāng miàn bú shì hěn yán gé.他在这方面不是很严格。

He's not very strict about this.

Source: Tatoeba #1325224 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè shì hěn yán zhòng de bìng.这是很严重的病。

It's a very serious illness.

Source: Tatoeba #5780588 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Bú yào hé wǒ kāi wán xiào. wǒ shì hěn yán sù de.不要和我开玩笑。我是很严肃的。

Don't make fun of me. I'm serious.

Source: Tatoeba #4844734 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Bú yào tài yán gé, tā men zhǐshì xiǎo hái.不要太严格,他们只是小孩。

Don't be too strict. They're just kids.

Source: Tatoeba #383292 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā duì zì jǐ de háizi hěn yán gé.他对自己的孩子很严格。

He was severe with his children.

Source: Tatoeba #343706 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Yòng bù zhe zhè me yán gé.用不着这么严格。

There is no need to be so strict.

Source: Tatoeba #901922 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 严 in context

  1. Say yán, then recall the core meaning: strict, rigorous, rigid.
  2. Write all 7 strokes while keeping the top-middle-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 严格 (yán gé), meaning “strict”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 严 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.