不严

不嚴

bùyán

adjective #35,771

Meanings

1 not strict
2 lax
3 lenient
4 loose (in enforcement)

Characters

Examples

HSK 4

这家公司管理不严，员工经常迟到。

Zhè jiā gōngsī guǎnlǐ bù yán, yuángōng jīngcháng chídào.

This company's management is lax; employees are often late.

HSK 4

门没关严，风一直吹进来。

Mén méi guān yán, fēng yìzhí chuī jìnlái.

The door isn't shut tight - wind keeps blowing in.

Tips

usage

Two distinct senses: (1) 'not strict' as in management/discipline - 管得不严, 把关不严; (2) 'not tight/sealed' for physical objects - 关不严 (won't close tight), 锁不严 (won't lock properly). Context disambiguates.

Stroke Order

不 bù

严 yán