严肃

• Pinyin: yán sù
• Hanzi breakdown: 严 = strict/tight; 肃 = 肀 + 聿, solemn/respectful

Meaning

Serious; solemn. Describes a grave, earnest demeanor or atmosphere without humor or lightness.

Can describe facial expressions, tones of voice, situations, or topics that require gravity. Also used as a verb meaning 'to make serious' or 'to treat seriously.' Contrast with 开玩笑 (joking) or 轻松 (relaxed).

Examples

1. 会议的气氛非常严肃，没有人敢开玩笑。 The atmosphere of the meeting was very serious — no one dared to joke.
2. 他用严肃的语气告诉我们事情的严重性。 He told us the severity of the situation in a serious tone.
3. 这是一个严肃的话题，我们需要认真对待。 This is a serious topic that we need to treat carefully.

Usage Guide

Context: formal settings, important discussions, workplace

Tone: formal

Do Say

• 他的表情很严肃。(His expression is very serious.)
• 请严肃对待这个问题。(Please treat this issue seriously.)

Don't Say

• 你太严肃了，笑一笑 (While grammatically correct, saying this to someone in a formal setting might be inappropriate)

Origin & History

Compound of 严 (strict, serious) and 肃 (respectful, solemn). The character 肃 originally depicted standing in reverence.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal