厉害

Traditional form:

厲害

Pinyin (reading):

lìhai

Definitions:

• (used to describe sb or sth that makes a very strong impression, whether favorable or unfavorable) terrible; intense; severe; devastating; amazing; awesome; outstanding
• (of a person) stern; strict; harsh; shrewd; tough
• (of an animal) fierce
• (of a resemblance) striking
• (of liquor or chili pepper) strong
• (of bacteria) virulent

Characters:

• 厉 - whetstone; to grind, to sharpen, to whet
• 害 - to injure, to harm; to destroy, to kill

Traditional characters:

• 厲 - whetstone; to grind, to sharpen, to whet
• 害 - to injure, to harm; to destroy, to kill