严厉
yánlì · HSK 5
stern
⚖️ 严 = strict + 厉 = severe; compound means stern/harsh
严 carries the sense of tight/strict (think '严格' strict), and 厉 means fierce or severe (as in '厉害' formidable). Together 严厉 stacks both halves into one word for stern, harsh treatment or punishment.
严 — mouth 口 (top) + cliff 厂 + 敢 (phonetic)
严 (traditional 嚴) originally depicted shouting mouths 吅 over a cliff 厂 with 敢 'dare' as the phonetic, suggesting a stern command issued from on high. The core meaning shifted from 'urgent shouting' to 'strict, severe, solemn'. The simplified form 严 keeps the top mouth and cliff while dropping most of the phonetic.