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March 24, 2026
严肃(嚴肅)yánsù(yan2su4)
严肃 (yán sù) refers to a serious or solemn demeanor, often used to describe a person's attitude or the atmosphere of a situation. It conveys a sense of gravity and earnestness, commonly used in formal contexts such as meetings, speeches, or discussions where a serious tone is required.
Frequency#3088DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, showing a 严肃 demeanor during important discussions is a sign of respect and professionalism. This is especially true in business and educational settings, where a serious attitude is often expected.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'serious' man (严) holding a 'soup' (肃) bowl tightly, emphasizing the importance of the moment. The character 严 suggests strictness, while 肃 implies seriousness, helping you remember the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 严肃
yánsù(yan2su4)
1solemn
2grave
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About 严肃
严肃Simplified
嚴肅Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#3088Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 严肃
Podcast: 严肃
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AI Study Notes for 严肃
Quick Contrast
严厉 (yánlì) refers to being strict or harsh, often in a disciplinary sense, while 严肃 (yánsù) emphasizes a serious demeanor without the implication of harshness.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'serious' man (严) holding a 'soup' (肃) bowl tightly, emphasizing the importance of the moment. The character 严 suggests strictness, while 肃 implies seriousness, helping you remember the meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 严肃 with other similar words like 认真 (rèn zhēn), which means 'earnest' but is more informal. 严肃 is typically used in formal settings, so be mindful of the context; using it in casual conversation may sound overly stiff.
HSK Study Tips
At HSK Level 5, understanding 严肃 helps students grasp the nuances of formality in language. It connects with other vocabulary related to emotions and attitudes, such as 轻松 (qīng sōng - relaxed) or 幽默 (yōu mò - humorous), allowing learners to contrast serious and light-hearted expressions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, showing a 严肃 demeanor during important discussions is a sign of respect and professionalism. This is especially true in business and educational settings, where a serious attitude is often expected.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes misuse 严肃 by pairing it with casual topics, like saying 严肃的游戏 (serious game) instead of a more fitting term. It should be reserved for contexts requiring gravity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 严肃
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Grammar Patterns of 严肃
严肃 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 5 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.
Wanting fidelity implies you're thinking about a major relationship.
8
“那件衣服很好看，”迈克尔说。“谢谢，”她严肃地回答。
“ “ nà jiàn yī fú hěn hǎo，” kàn ，” mài kè。“ ěr shuō，” 。“ xiè xiè ，” tā yán。
"That's a nice dress," said Michael. "Thanks," she replied solemnly.
9
他们让我坐下，然后和我严肃地探讨了有关性的话题。
tā mén ràng wǒ zuò xià， ， rán hòu hé wǒ yán sù dì tàn tǎo le yǒu guān xìng de huà。
They sat me down and had a serious discussion about sex.
10
这次运动虽然大搞噱头，但也有其严肃的一面。
zhè cì yùn dòng suī rán dà gǎo jué tóu， ， dàn yě yǒu qí yán sù de yī。
The campaign was gimmicky, but it had a serious side to it.
Cultural Notes for 严肃
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, showing a 严肃 demeanor during important discussions is a sign of respect and professionalism. This is especially true in business and educational settings, where a serious attitude is often expected.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
While seriousness is valued in both Chinese and Western cultures, Western contexts may allow for more light-heartedness and humor in discussions, whereas Chinese culture often maintains a more formal tone.
Frequently Asked Questions about 严肃
Yes, you can use 严肃 to describe someone who is generally serious or stern in nature.
No, it's best suited for formal contexts; using it informally may come off as too severe.
Common collocations include 严肃的态度 (serious attitude) and 严肃的讨论 (serious discussion).
