Simplified
Simplified
Traditional
Original meaning: exaggerate
Phonosemantic compound. 喦 represents the meaning and 敢 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "exaggerate". The meaning later shifted to "extreme", "severe", and "strict".
Components
Character Evolution
Component uses
Historical Pronunciations
| Middle Chinese | Old Chinese | Gloss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baxter-Sagart | ngjaem | ŋ(r)am | stern, majestic |
說文解字
《說文》：“嚴，教命急也。从吅，聲。，古文。”
Sources
- Character origin
- 漢語多功能字庫
- Readings & variants
- Unicode
- Historical pronunciations
- Baxter-Sagart
- Historical images
- Academia Sinica
- Etymology
- Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字)
Traditional
Original meaning: to tremble with fear
Depicts a hand holding a bamboo stick (聿) walking on the edge of an abyss (𣶒). Based on the original meaning "to tremble with fear". The meaning later shifted to "solemn" and "pay respects".
Components
Character Evolution
Component uses
Historical Pronunciations
| Middle Chinese | Old Chinese | Gloss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baxter-Sagart | sjuwk | siwk | solemn, severe |
| sjuwk | siwk | contract (v.); shrivel | |
| sjuwk | siwk | present (v.) | |
| sjuwk | siwk | beat (v.) | |
| sjuwk | siwk | eager; swift |
說文解字
《說文》：“肅，持事振敬也。从在上，戰戰兢兢也。，古文肅。从心，从卪。”
Sources
- Character origin
- 漢語多功能字庫
- Readings & variants
- Unicode
- Historical pronunciations
- Baxter-Sagart
- Historical images
- Academia Sinica
- Etymology
- Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字)