严重 yánzhòng grave
grave; serious; critical
How to remember 严重: 严 strict + 重 heavy = grave.
Characters
How it is used
- 'Serious / grave / severe' about problems and conditions - 问题很严重 (wèntí hěn yánzhòng) the problem is serious; 严重后果 (yánzhòng hòuguǒ) grave consequences.
- Only for negative situations (illness, damage, mistakes) - you can't 严重 something good. Contrast 认真 (rènzhēn, serious as in earnest/diligent), a false friend of English 'serious'.
- Common: 病得很严重 (bìng de hěn yánzhòng) seriously ill.
Example sentences
- 严重吗？ Yánzhòng ma?Is it serious?
- 他病得很严重。 Tā bìng de hěn yánzhòng.He was very ill.
- 这是很严重的病。 Zhè shì hěn yánzhòng de bìng.It's a very serious illness.