严格 (yángé)

严格 describes a person, rule, or standard that demands exact and thorough compliance without leniency.

Meanings

[adjective] Strict; rigorous; stern; demanding.

Example Sentences

这所学校的纪律非常严格。 Zhè suǒ xuéxiào de jìlǜ fēicháng yángé. The discipline at this school is very strict.

他对自己的要求很严格。 Tā duì zìjǐ de yāoqiú hěn yángé. He has very strict requirements for himself.

父母严格要求孩子并不是坏事。 Fùmǔ yángé yāoqiú háizi bìng bù shì huàishì. It is not a bad thing for parents to be strict with their children.

食品安全标准需要严格执行。 Shípǐn ānquán biāozhǔn xūyào yángé zhíxíng. Food safety standards need to be strictly enforced.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
严格要求	to demand strictly
严格执行	to enforce strictly
严格管理	strict management
严格标准	rigorous standard
严格遵守	to strictly observe/comply

Usage Notes

严格 often collocates with 要求 (demand), 执行 (enforce), and 管理 (manage). It can function as an adverb directly before a verb ("严格执行") or as an adjective before a noun ("严格标准"). Its near-synonym 严厉 (yánlì) implies harshness or severity in punishment, while 严格 focuses on exactness of standards.

Memory Hook

严 means "stern/severe" and 格 means "standard/grid" — a stern grid of rules leaves no room to slip through.