TSUMUGU · TOCFL 3 (est.) · 字
嚴
嚴 ＝ 吅 ＋ 𠪚
ㄧㄢˊ · yán
adj — strict; severe
字源 FORM — what the parts do
吅義two mouths — orders on orders
𠪚聲yín — gives the sound敢, daring, under a cliff (厂)
Fyín → yán — the final opens
Two mouths (吅) on top — orders pressed one over another, urgent and stern. Beneath, 𠪚 yín — 敢 under a cliff (厂) — gives the sound, worn open to yán. From the pressed order: 嚴格 strict, 嚴重 grave, 嚴肅 solemn.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
崖（厂）下的哨口，兩張嘴（吅）一前一後喝住來人。
A post below the cliff (厂); two mouths (吅), one after the other, halt whoever comes.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)嚴厲— stern — the order pressed
→嚴格— strict
→嚴重— grave, severe常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
巖yán嚴 under a mountain 山 — the cliff face; the sound goes home敢gǎnthe daring buried in 嚴's lower half