Majorities of foreign student often use the sentence when learning Chinese: 他是一个严重的人。（tā shì yí ɡè yán zhònɡ de rén） he is a serious (yan zhong严重) man. It is hard for Chinese to understand. The original Chinese to express it should be in this way: 他是一个严肃的人。（tā shì yí ɡè yán sù de rén）He is a serious (严肃yán sù) man. So what’s the difference between ‘严肃’yán sù and ‘yan zhong严重’yán zhònɡ?

Serious (严重’yán zhònɡ): to describe serious of matters or state of illness 哦or to describe matters:

E.g. 前边发生了严重的车祸。（qián biɑn fā shēnɡ le yán zhònɡ de chē huò）There is a serious accident in the road ahead.
他把这件事情说得很严重。（tā bǎ zhè jiàn shì qínɡ shuō dé hěn yán zhònɡ）He makes the whole thing serious.
你的签证到期了，你不去延签证，后果会很严重。（nǐ de qiān zhènɡ dào qī le ， nǐ bú qù yán qiān zhènɡ ， hòu ɡuǒ huì hěn yán zhònɡ）It is quite serious without delaying your visa when it expires.

To describe state of illness:
E.g.他病得很严重。（tā bìnɡ dé hěn yán zhònɡ） He is ill seriously.

Serious (严肃yán sù): to depict serious people or atmosphere and Somebody’s deposition, expression or attitude:
E.g. 老板是一个很严肃的人，他很少笑（láo bǎn shì yí ɡè hěn yán sù de rén ， tā hěn shǎo xiào）。Boss is a serious people. He laughs rarely.

Atmosphere:
E.g. 今天会议室的气氛非常严肃。（jīn tiān huì yì shì de qì fēn fēi chánɡ yán sù）The atmosphere in the meeting room is pretty serious today.

When you study Chinese in China, you have to notice the difference between them.

If you study Chinese in China and have any questions about it, please leave a message for Keats School.