厉害

lì hai

Adjective describing someone or something that is impressive, formidable, skilled, or extremely severe; can also mean amazing or awesome.

他打篮球打得真厉害。

He plays basketball really amazingly well.

Etymology

Originally used in Classical Chinese to refer to the sharp edge of a blade, it gradually expanded its meaning to describe anything that leaves a strong, striking impression by the early modern period.

Memory Aid

Break the word into two characters: 厉 (strict) + 害 (harm) → combine the two to get something that is strictly impressive or harshly strong.

Collocations

厉害角色非常厉害厉害的对手疼得厉害发烧厉害

Synonyms

强大了不起出色凶猛

Antonyms

平庸差劲无能温和

Related Words

能干优秀凶猛惊人