嚴

Ideogrammic compound formed from:

𠪚 (험준할 음) — representing steep cliffs, danger, severity.

吅 (부르짖을 훤) — depicting two mouths, symbolizing intensity of sound or expression.

Together, they form the meaning of “intense and commanding presence” — something grave, severe, and awe-inspiring.

Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「嚴，尊也。从口，敢聲。」

“嚴 means respect and dignity; composed of the mouth radical, with phonetic 敢.”

(Note: in the transmitted Shuowen text, a slightly different ancient form is cited.)

In the evolution of the script, 嚴 derived from ancient forms combining elements of speech (口) and cliff-like forms (厂/𠪚), indicating “a stern voice resounding through a lofty place.”

Semantic development:

Literal sense: grave, intense, solemn in expression or tone.

Moral sense: upright, firm, and disciplined in conduct.

Emotional sense: awe-inspiring, majestic, reverent.

Extended sense: to respect, to venerate, to revere (as in 嚴父 “respected father”).

Hence, the character simultaneously connotes severity and respect, reflecting the ancient moral ideal of balanced authority — austere yet righteous.

嚴 is used broadly to describe strictness, formality, reverence, and dignity, both in personal conduct and external atmosphere.

嚴格 (엄격) — strict, rigorous

嚴肅 (엄숙) — solemn, serious

威嚴 (위엄) — dignity, majesty

尊嚴 (존엄) — dignity, self-respect

嚴寒 (엄한, 혹한) — severe cold

嚴禁 (엄금) — strict prohibition

嚴重 (엄중) — serious, grave

嚴師 (엄사) — strict teacher

In Confucian ethics, 嚴 represents discipline and respect rooted in benevolence (仁).

A ruler or parent should be 嚴而有愛 — “strict yet loving.”

《禮記》 (Book of Rites):

「父慈子孝，兄友弟恭，長嚴少順。」

“A father should be kind, a son filial; an elder brother friendly, a younger respectful; the elder strict, the younger compliant.”

This reflects that 嚴 is not cruelty but moral gravity — maintaining order and reverence within relationships.

《論語》 (Analects):

「君子嚴而不猛，小人猛而不嚴。」

“The noble man is firm but not harsh; the petty man is harsh but not truly dignified.”

This expresses the Confucian distinction between righteous firmness (君子之嚴) and mere cruelty (小人之猛).

In Buddhist and Daoist contexts, 嚴 can also denote solemn ritual purity or divine majesty, as seen in temple names and sutra titles such as 嚴淨國土 (the pure and solemn land).

Symbolic interpretation:

嚴 embodies authority tempered with virtue — the principle that order arises not from fear, but from reverence.

Its pictorial origin — the sound of command echoing under a cliff — captures the awe that rightful power inspires.

「嚴者，不苛也；威者，不怒也。」

“To be strict is not to be cruel; to be dignified is not to be angry.”

Thus, 嚴 stands for moral firmness, solemn presence, and respectful discipline — the strength that sustains harmony.

Through centuries of use, it became a key moral term in East Asian thought, symbolizing that true authority is grounded in respect and righteousness.

厳 — Japanese Shinjitai (modern simplified form)

严 — Simplified Chinese form