Japanese

しい

きびしい
Meaning: strict; severe; intense
Part of Speech: Adjective

Listen to pronunciation

Handwriting

厳
し
い

Example sentences

Endure strict training.
彼は嘘をついた息子を厳しく怒った。
He scolded his son harshly for telling a lie.
彼は厳しい訓練に耐えた。
He endured the harsh training.
厳しい指導の下で練習に励む。
I train hard under strict guidance.
彼女は厳しい口調で息子を叱った。
She scolded her son in a harsh tone.
彼は仕事に関しては鬼のように厳しい。
He is as strict as a demon when it comes to work.
消防士たちは、毎日のように厳しい訓練を受けている。
Firefighters undergo strict training almost every day.
現実は厳しいが、高い理想を持って努力し続けたい。
Reality is tough, but I want to keep striving with high ideals.
母親はいたずらをした子供を厳しく叱った。
The mother strictly scolded the child for playing a prank.
彼は一見厳しそうに見える。
He looks strict at first glance.

Usage Notes

Used for strict people, severe weather, or intense situations.

Sottaku

About Sottaku

Sottaku is an app for learning Chinese, Japanese, Korean, English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian with a strong focus on SRS. It includes automatic flashcard creation for hundreds of thousands of words, grammar breakdowns in example sentences, language-specific study packs where available, adaptive quizzes, mobile apps, a browser extension, and community features. Give it a try now! All learning content is free with no limits on flashcards or study time.

Sottaku is built to match the habits of successful learners. By using Sottaku, you will naturally learn in the most efficient way possible, as proven by countless success stories in the language learning community.

Free Forever

Access all grammar guides, quizzes, and flashcards without paying a cent. Quality education should be accessible to everyone.

Smart SRS System

Our flashcard system uses the FSRS algorithm (also used in Anki) to optimize your review schedule and maximize retention.

Comprehensive Content

From hanzi, kana, hangul, and European vocabulary basics to grammar and reading practice where available, we have lessons for every level. Practice with quizzes tailored to your skill.

Community Chat

Ask level-appropriate questions and get help from the community. Learn together with fellow learners across all 8 supported languages.