KanjiSchool
厳
“strict / severe” in Japanese is 厳, read gen, gon, kibi (げん, ごん, きび). It is a Grade 6 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 6 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 厳しい (strict).
Try it now
What does 厳 mean?
Learn all 1,018 kanji with spaced-repetition review — free. Start free →
父はとても厳しい。
ちちはとてもきびしい。My father is very strict.
Get unlimited AI example sentences + native audio + saved progress. Start free →
Unlock guided stroke order, scoring and daily streaks. Start free →
Full details, readings & example
| Kanji | 厳 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | strict / severe |
| Readings | げん, ごん, きび |
| Grade | Grade 6 (Hardest) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
| Example | 厳しい (strict) |
How to read 厳
厳 is read gen (げん) or gon (ごん) or kibi (きび) depending on the word.
Words with 厳
- 厳粛
- 厳しいstrict / severe
Learn 厳 in real sentences — free
Read stories and news built from only the kanji you already know. KanjiSchool’s path covers all 2,136 Jōyō kanji — 1,018 ready to learn now.
Start free — no credit card →
Kanji read the same way as 厳
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:
Read this character in a real sentence
Updated: 2026-08-28