Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
厉害(厲害)lìhai(li4hai5)
厉害 (lìhài) describes something that is formidable or impressive, often used to express admiration or concern about someone's skills or a situation's severity. It can refer to people, situations, or even things that are intense, difficult to handle, or cause strong reactions.
Frequency#1156DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being described as 厉害 often carries a sense of respect and admiration for someone's abilities, especially in academic or professional contexts. It reflects the cultural value placed on excellence and competence.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fierce tiger (猛虎) that is both awesome and terrifying, symbolizing the dual nature of 厉害 - it can mean something impressive or something hard to deal with. The character 厉 (lì) looks like a strong, threatening figure, while 害 (hài) suggests harm, which helps you remember its intensity.
Meanings of 厉害
lìhai(li4hai5)
1difficult to deal with
2difficult to endure
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 厉害
厉害Simplified
厲害Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#1156Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 厉害
Podcast: 厉害
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 厉害
Quick Contrast
厉害 (lìhài) vs 棒 (bàng) — use 厉害 for severity or intensity, while 棒 emphasizes excellence or skill.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a fierce tiger (猛虎) that is both awesome and terrifying, symbolizing the dual nature of 厉害 - it can mean something impressive or something hard to deal with. The character 厉 (lì) looks like a strong, threatening figure, while 害 (hài) suggests harm, which helps you remember its intensity.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 厉害 with other words like 可怕 (kěpà, scary) or 严重 (yánzhòng, serious). While 厉害 can be positive or negative, using it in a negative context can sound harsh; consider the tone and context. Common collocations include 厉害的老师 (lìhài de lǎoshī, impressive teacher) and 厉害的竞争 (lìhài de jìngzhēng, fierce competition).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 厉害 connects well with other adjectives that describe intensity or severity, enhancing students' ability to express strong opinions. Focus on using it in sentences to describe skills or challenging situations to solidify understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being described as 厉害 often carries a sense of respect and admiration for someone's abilities, especially in academic or professional contexts. It reflects the cultural value placed on excellence and competence.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 厉害 when they mean to say 'bad' or 'awful'; for instance, saying '这部电影很厉害' (This movie is very厉害) when they mean it was terrible. Instead, they should say '这部电影很糟糕' (This movie is terrible).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 厉害
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 厉害 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 厉害 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 厉害
厉害 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 9 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
那棵树倾斜得非常____。
The tree was leaning at a low angle from the ground.
Example Sentences for 厉害 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
那棵树倾斜得非常厉害。
nà kē shù qīng xié dé fēi cháng lì hài。
The tree was leaning at a low angle from the ground.
2
他病得厉害，不能赶到他儿子身边了。
tā bìng dé lì hài， ， bù néng gǎn dào tā ér zǐ shēn biān。
He was too sick to travel to his son's side.
3
我的眼睛肿得很厉害，几乎看不到东西。
wǒ de yǎn jīng zhǒng dé hěn lì hài， ， jī hū kàn bù dào dōng。
The helicopter turned at an awful angle before righting itself.
5
他醉得太厉害，连话都说不出来了。
tā zuì dé tài lì hài， ， lián huà dū shuō bù chū lái。
He was so drunk that he had lost the power of speech.
6
你抖得很厉害,格雷西.
nǐ dǒu dé hěn lì hài, , gé léi.
You're shivering fit to die, Gracie.
7
帕特里夏·海史密斯那本书是谁改编成剧本的？雷蒙德·钱德勒呀，厉害。
pà tè lǐ xià· · hǎi shǐ mì sī nà běn shū shì shuí gǎi biān chéng jù běn？ de ？ léi· mēng dé · qián， dé lè。
Who wrote the screenplay from Patricia Highsmith's book? Raymond Chandler, no less.
8
“ 我认为法律把人分尸也太厉害了点.
“ “ wǒ rèn wéi fǎ lǜ bǎ rén fēn shī yě tài lì hài le.
'It's hard in the law to split a man, I think.
9
他感到冷,而且晕机晕得厉害.
tā gǎn dào lěng, , ér qiě yùn jī yùn dé lì.
He felt cold and more than a little airsick.
10
以微弱负电流刺激疼得最厉害的部位。
yǐ wēi ruò fù diàn liú cì jī téng dé zuì lì hài de bù wèi。
Stimulate the site of greatest pain with a small negative current.
Cultural Notes for 厉害
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, being described as 厉害 often carries a sense of respect and admiration for someone's abilities, especially in academic or professional contexts. It reflects the cultural value placed on excellence and competence.
Frequently Asked Questions about 厉害
Yes, 厉害 can describe something impressive or something that is difficult to manage, so context is important.
It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of the tone when discussing serious matters.
It is pronounced as 'lìhài', with a falling tone on 厉 and a rising tone on 害.
