Usage note
严重表示情况很重或问题很大。
yán zhòng biǎo shì qíng kuàng hěn zhòng huò wèn tí hěn dà。
严重 means the situation is serious or the problem is big.
Context note
严重常用于问题、疾病和错误。
yán zhòng cháng yòng yú wèn tí 、 jí bìng hé cuò wù。
严重 is often used with problems, illness, and mistakes.
5 examples
这个问题很严重。
zhè ge wèn tí hěn yán zhòng。
This problem is serious.
他受伤得很严重。
tā shòu shāng dé hěn yán zhòng。
He was seriously injured.
情况没有那么严重。
qíng kuàng méi yǒu nà me yán zhòng。
The situation is not that serious.
老师说要重视严重的问题。
lǎo shī shuō yào zhòng shì yán zhòng de wèn tí。
The teacher said serious problems must be taken seriously.
天气很严重吗？
tiān qì hěn yán zhòng ma？
Is the weather severe?
5 mini stories
医生说他的情况不严重。
yī shēng shuō tā de qíng kuàng bù yán zhòng。
The doctor said his condition was not serious.
这个错误很严重，必须改正。
zhè ge cuò wù hěn yán zhòng， bì xū gǎi zhèng。
This mistake is serious and must be corrected.
不要把小问题变得严重。
bú yào bǎ xiǎo wèn tí biàn de yán zhòng。
Do not turn a small problem into a serious one.
他看起来病得很严重。
tā kàn qǐ lái bìng dé hěn yán zhòng。
He looked very seriously ill.
老师提醒我们认真对待严重情况。
lǎo shī tí xǐng wǒ men rèn zhēn duì dài yán zhòng qíng kuàng。
The teacher reminded us to treat serious situations carefully.
Mini dialogue
感冒严重
A
你今天怎么没来学校？
Nǐ jīntiān zěnme méi lái xuéxiào?
Why didn't you come to school today?
B
我感冒很严重，妈妈让我在家休息。
Wǒ gǎnmào hěn yánzhòng, māma ràng wǒ zài jiā xiūxi.
I have a serious cold, my mom told me to rest at home.
问题严重
A
这个问题严重吗？
Zhège wèntí yánzhòng ma?
Is this problem serious?
B
不太严重，我们很快就能解决。
Bú tài yánzhòng, wǒmen hěn kuài jiù néng jiějué.
Not too serious, we can solve it soon.
Related words and contrasts
similar
重要
zhòngyào
important
Something that matters a lot
opposite
轻松
qīngsōng
relaxed; light
Not serious or heavy