Zài yánkē de huánjìng xià, tāmen réngrán jiānchí xiàlái.
Under harsh conditions, they still persisted.
Tips
usage
严苛 is harsher than 严格 (yángé, 'strict'): it carries a hint of 'too strict / unforgiving.' Compare 苛刻 (kēkè, 'demanding to the point of being mean') for an even stronger negative tone.
