厉

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strict; severe

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Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Components 厂万

stern · Heisig RSH #123

厂 factory + 万 ten thousand

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
正言厉色	zhèng yán lì sè	solemn in word and countenance (idiom); strict and unsmiling; also written 正顏厲色\|正颜厉色
变本加厉	biàn běn jiā lì	lit. change to more severe (idiom); to become more intense (esp. of shortcoming); to aggra…
厉行节约	lì xíng jié yuē	to practice strict economy (idiom)
雷厉风行	léi lì fēng xíng	pass like thunder and move like the wind (idiom); swift and decisive reaction
不明觉厉	bù míng jué lì	although I don't understand it, it seems pretty awesome (Internet slang)
正颜厉色	zhèng yán lì sè	solemn in countenance (idiom); strict and unsmiling
严厉打击	yán lì dǎ jī	to strike a severe blow; to crack down; to take strong measures
厉行	lì xíng	to do (sth) with rigor; rigorously
再接再厉	zài jiē zài lì	to continue the struggle (idiom); to persist; unremitting efforts
厉声	lì shēng	in a sharp, forceful voice
威厉	wēi lì	awe-inspiring; majestic
厉鬼	lì guǐ	malicious spirit; devil
严厉批评	yán lì pī píng	to criticize severely; to slate
冷厉	lěng lì	stern; unsympathetic; icy
厉害	lì hai	(used to describe sb or sth that makes a very strong impression, whether favorable or unfa…
发扬蹈厉	fā yáng dǎo lì	see 發揚踔厲\|发扬踔厉[fa1 yang2 chuo1 li4]
尖厉	jiān lì	shrill (voice)
严厉	yán lì	severe; strict
粗厉	cū lì	abrasive; husky (voice)
色厉内荏	sè lì nèi rěn	lit. show strength while weak inside (idiom); appearing fierce while cowardly at heart; a …

These characters use 厉 as their sound component — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
厉 sound part	lì	whetstone; to grind, to sharpen, to whet
励	lì	to encourage; to strive
蛎	lì	oyster