How common it is
厉害 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say lì hai slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
厉害可以表示很强、很棒，也可以表示严重。
lì hài kě yǐ biǎo shì hěn qiáng 、 hěn bàng， yě kě yǐ biǎo shì yán zhòng。
Powerful can mean very strong or great, and it can also mean severe.
Context note
厉害常出现在夸奖、感叹和生病里。
lì hài cháng chū xiàn zài kuā jiǎng 、 gǎn tàn hé shēng bìng lǐ。
Powerful often appears in praise, exclamations, and sickness.
5 examples
你真厉害。
nǐ zhēn lì hài。
You are really great.
他很厉害。
tā hěn lì hài。
He is very capable.
风很厉害。
fēng hěn lì hài。
The wind is strong.
这个问题很厉害。
zhè ge wèn tí hěn lì hài。
This problem is severe.
老师说他很厉害。
lǎo shī shuō tā hěn lì hài。
The teacher said he is very capable.
5 mini stories
哥哥打球很厉害，大家都佩服他。
gē ge dǎ qiú hěn lì hài， dà jiā dōu pèi fú tā。
My older brother is very good at playing ball, and everyone admires him.
风很厉害，我们只好待在屋里。
fēng hěn lì hài， wǒ men zhǐ hǎo dài zài wū lǐ。
The wind was strong, so we had to stay in the house.
老师说这位同学写字很厉害。
lǎo shī shuō zhè wèi tóng xué xiě zì hěn lì hài。
The teacher said this student is very good at writing.
这道题太厉害了，我还不会。
zhè dào tí tài lì hài le， wǒ hái bú huì。
This problem is very hard, and I still cannot do it.
你学得这么快，真厉害。
nǐ xué dé zhè me kuài， zhēn lì hài。
You learn so fast; you are really great.