严
yán
严 (yán) is the Chinese surname yan.
严 is used as a family name. Note that the phrase 加油! is a common expression meaning "Keep up the good work!"
How do you pronounce it?
yán
Did you know?
- While 严 is a surname, it is also a critical component of the term 严禁, which is the standard signage used across China to mean 'strictly forbidden'.
- In ancient China, the concept of 严 was often paired with 慈 (kindness) to describe the ideal balance of a parent's behavior toward their children.
- Because many different Chinese characters are pronounced 'yan', people with the surname 严 often must specify the character in writing to avoid confusion with other 'yan' names like 颜 or 闫.
Examples in context
- 他正在吸烟。He is smoking.
- 我不喜欢被烟味包围。I don't like being surrounded by smoke odor.
- 天空中飞翔的雁儿看起来如此优美。The flying wild geese in the sky look so graceful.
- 那只雁带领着其他的鸟类飞过了远方的山峦。That wild goose led other birds to fly over the distant mountains.
- 她有一双大大的明亮的眼睛。She has a pair of big bright eyes.
- 这只小猫的眼睛非常漂亮。The eyes of this little cat are very beautiful.
- 严是一个很常见的姓氏。Yán shì yīgè hěn chángjiàn de xìngshì.Yan is a very common surname.
- 严先生在医院工作。Yán xiānsheng zài yīyuàn gōngzuò.Mr. Yan works at the hospital.
- 我认识一个叫严的朋友。Wǒ rènshi yīgè jiào Yán de péngyou.I know a friend named Yan.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a new colleague.
- 俊杰 Junjie那个新来的同事姓什么？Nàge xīn lái de tóngshì xìng shénme?What is the surname of that new colleague?
- 雨婷 Yuting他姓严。Tā xìng Yán.His surname is Yan.
- 俊杰 Junjie严先生人怎么样？Yán xiānsheng rén zěnmeyàng?How is Mr. Yan as a person?
- 雨婷 Yuting他非常专业。Tā fēicháng zhuānyè.He is very professional.
