严加 (yán jiā) — (adverb) strictly, severely, stringently (placed directly before verbs of control, prevention, or enforcement)

Definition

严加 is a formal written adverb that goes directly before a verb to mean 'strictly / rigorously' (e.g. 严加管理, 严加防范). It has no colloquial spoken equivalent and is used almost only in official, news, or legal registers.

adverb
strictlyseverelystringently (placed directly before verbs of control, prevention, or enforcement)

Examples

  • 严加。
    Gōng sī bì xū yán jiā guǎn lǐ chǎn pǐn zhì liàng.
    The company must strictly manage product quality.
  • 严加。
    Jǐng fāng duì kě yí rén yuán yán jiā fáng fàn.
    The police are on high alert against suspicious individuals.
  • 严加。
    Gōng chǎng duì ān quán yǐn huàn yào yán jiā pái chá.
    The factory must thoroughly inspect safety hazards.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

严yánstrict
加jiāapply

严, strict, joins 加, to apply or impose, giving 'strictly apply'.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 嚴; 严 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
喦喦yántalkative
Sound part声符shēngfú
敢
敢gǎn嚴yán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 嚴 combines 喦 (talkative) and 敢 (daring); the simplified 严 is a later shorthand.

Open 严 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

加 pairs 力 and 口. In one explanation 力 is strength and 口 is the mouth, meaning exaggeration; in another 力 is plowing effort and 口 is breath or exclamation, meaning extra effort.

Open 加 →

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