<p>宫城森严 seems kinda literary/archaic where meaning gets condensed, so its a bit hard to decipher. Note that due to the arrangement of 森严, it would be literally &quot;forestly strict&quot; instead of &quot;strict forest,&quot; which would be 严森 otherwise.</p>
<p>The word 森 can have connotations of being oppressive/dark, and when 严 is used in the context of a city/palace it can mean well guarded. It might be a cultural thing to note that names for forest can have subtle differences, 森林 can sound more deep/sinister than 树林 for example.</p>
<p>In general 森严 as a phrase is not very common in modern usage, as far as I'm aware.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-16T23:55:07.773Z
警戒森严/ 戒备森严  (heavily guarded)  is a common literary phrase, you can see it often in writing
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-16T20:54:46.583Z
2022-04-16T20:54:46.583Z
crossroad
<p>森严 is a common word. I take it as 像<em><strong>森</strong></em>林一样<em><strong>严</strong></em>密(as dense as the forest). We picture that forest is so dense that light can't pass through.</p>
<p>Metaphorically, we take that to mean <em><strong>heavily guarded</strong></em>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-17T00:28:51.830Z
2022-04-17T00:28:51.830Z
dan
<p>So why does &quot;森严&quot; mean &quot;strictly protected&quot;?  like, ok, &quot;森&quot; Means Jungle and  &quot;严&quot; means strict, so shouldn't it means &quot;strict forest&quot;  not &quot;strongly protected&quot;, right? The full phrase is &quot;宫城森严&quot;</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-17T16:06:28.280Z
森 only means forest when it functions as a noun. In the example you gave, it's not a noun but an adjective. In that case, it can mean being full of trees, towering, gloomy, etc.
joehua
<translation><meaning><meaning-in-context><vocabulary><adjectives>
森严 Why does this mean heavy guarding?
# 森严 Why does this mean heavy guarding?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-04-16)

So why does "森严" mean "strictly protected"? like, ok, "森" Means Jungle and "严" means strict, so shouldn't it means "strict forest" not "strongly protected", right? The full phrase is "宫城森严"

**Tags:** translation, meaning, meaning-in-context, vocabulary, adjectives

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 森 only means forest when it functions as a noun. In the example you gave, it's not a noun but an adjective. In that case, it can mean being full of trees, towering, gloomy, etc.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2022-04-17. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

森严 is a common word. I take it as 像***森***林一样***严***密(as dense as the forest). We picture that forest is so dense that light can't pass through.

Metaphorically, we take that to mean ***heavily guarded***.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2022-04-16. Score: 0

宫城森严 seems kinda literary/archaic where meaning gets condensed, so its a bit hard to decipher. Note that due to the arrangement of 森严, it would be literally "forestly strict" instead of "strict forest," which would be 严森 otherwise.

The word 森 can have connotations of being oppressive/dark, and when 严 is used in the context of a city/palace it can mean well guarded. It might be a cultural thing to note that names for forest can have subtle differences, 森林 can sound more deep/sinister than 树林 for example.

In general 森严 as a phrase is not very common in modern usage, as far as I'm aware.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: 警戒森严/ 戒备森严  (heavily guarded)  is a common literary phrase, you can see it often in writing  

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