jim4 lai6嚴厲严厉
Jyutpingjim4 lai6
Yaleyìhm laih
Definition
Stern, harsh, or strict; severe or urgent.
- stern, strict, and demanding
- severe; urgent; serious
neutralpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Describes a person who maintains a serious, unsmiling demeanor and sets high standards for others. It often implies a lack of warmth or flexibility in interpersonal interactions. While it can describe rules or laws, it is most frequently used to characterize the personality or management style of authority figures like teachers or bosses.
Examples
He is usually very stern with his students.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe someone who is simply angry or aggressive. It specifically refers to a consistent, disciplined, and demanding nature rather than a temporary outburst of temper.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
