HSK Level 5

厉害

lì hai

difficult to deal with

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Example Sentences

Synonyms

Antonyms

差劲 (chājìn)

bad

糟糕 (zāogāo)

terrible

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 厉害 (lìhai) is a compound of two characters: 力 (lì), meaning "strength" or "power," and 害 (hài), meaning "harm" or "injury." Together, these characters convey the idea of "great strength" or "powerful." The word 厉害 can be used as an adjective to describe someone or something that is strong, powerful, or impressive, or as a verb to mean "to be strong" or "to be powerful."The character 力 (lì) is one of the most common characters in Chinese, and it has a wide range of meanings. In addition to "strength" or "power," it can also mean "effort," "energy," or "ability." The character 害 (hài) is also a common character, and it can mean "harm," "injury," "damage," or "disaster."The compound character 厉害 (lìhai) is first attested in the 13th century, and it has been used continuously ever since. It is a versatile word that can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, it can be used to describe a strong person, a powerful weapon, or an impressive performance. It can also be used to express surprise or admiration.The word 厉害 (lìhai) is a useful addition to any HSK learner's vocabulary. It is a common word that can be used in a variety of contexts, and it is sure to impress your Chinese friends and colleagues.