with a severe countenance and a harsh voice
It's a Chinese idiom, Pinyin is è y á NL ì s è, which means to speak and look stern. From the spring and Autumn Annals of Xiaocheng.
Idiom explanation
Li: serious and severe. Describe the vehemence of speech and the severity of face
The origin of Idioms
Gao Yunlan, chapter 38 of the spring and Autumn Annals of a small city: "although teacher Hongshan still scolded Shuyin fiercely, her attitude has slowed down."
Analysis of Idioms
Antonym: pleasant face
Idiom usage
As a predicate, attributive, adverbial; used in speech
Chinese PinYin : è yán lì sè
with a severe countenance and a harsh voice
The road and the road tie each other. dào jìn xiāng zhěn
The white ant contends for the nest. bái yǐ zhēng xué
delve into secret facts or principles. tàn zé suǒ yǐn