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厉害

厲害
lìhai
adjective HSK 4 #1,156

Meanings

  1. 1 awesome
  2. 2 formidable
  3. 3 terrible; severe

Examples

HSK 1
你太厉害了！
Nǐ tài lìhai le!
You're awesome!
HSK 3
这次感冒很厉害。
Zhècì gǎnmào hěn lìhai.
This cold is really bad.
HSK 4
这两家公司竞争得非常厉害。
Zhè liǎng jiā gōngsī jìngzhēng de fēicháng lìhai.
These two companies compete fiercely.

Tips

usage
厉害 is one of the most versatile Chinese adjectives. Positive: 你好厉害 (you are amazing!). Negative: 疼得很厉害 (it hurts terribly). Context is everything.
grammar
The second syllable is pronounced with a neutral tone: lì hai, not lì hài.

In Pop Culture

厉害了，我的国！ Lìhai le, wǒ de guó!
Amazing, my country!
2018 documentary title turned internet meme about national pride

Stroke Order

厉 lì
害 hài