厳しい
きびしい
hepburn kibishii
strict, severe
Part of speech · i-adjective
Pattern visualization
no decomposition available
Examples
- うちの先生は厳しいです。Our teacher is strict.
- 今年の冬は厳しい寒さです。This winter is harshly cold.
Collocations
厳しい (kibishii, strict / harsh)厳しく (kibishiku, strictly — adverb)厳格 (genkaku, strict — na-adj, formal)甘い (amai, lenient — opposite)厳しい目 (kibishii me, strict gaze)
Mnemonic
厳しい kibishii — i-adjective spanning character, weather, and judgment. 厳しい先生 (strict teacher), 厳しい冬 (harsh winter), 厳しい目 (stern gaze), 厳しい状況 (difficult situation). Onyomi げん (gen): 厳格 (genkaku, strict, na-adj formal), 厳禁 (genkin, strictly forbidden), 厳重 (genjuu, severe). Kanji 厳 stacks rough strokes on top of 厂 → image of a sheer cliff = "severe, harsh". Central evaluative word in Japan's education, martial arts, and corporate hierarchy culture — 厳しい先輩 (strict senior), 厳しい上司 (strict boss) carry precise social weight.
Quick check
Meaning of "this winter is 厳しい"?