grave, serious
[adjective/adverb]
[ern-stig]

"Ernstig" is used for people being serious as well as for grave situations. Synonyms are "erg" (severe), "serieus" (serious), "zorgwekkend" (worrying) and "kritiek"(critical).

Examples:
– "De situatie in Haïti is zeer ernstig na de aardbeving van gisteren." 
("The situation in Haiti is very grave after yesterday’s earthquake.")

– "Waarom kijkt Frank zo ernstig?" – "Ach, hij piekert gewoon veel…" 
("Why is Frank looking so serious?" – "Ah well, he just worries a lot…")

– "Ik maak me ernstig zorgen over de DWOTD mailinglist…het kan toch niet zo zijn dat mensen hun dagelijkse dosis Nederlandse taal moeten missen?!" 
("The DWOTD mailing list worries me seriously…it can’t possibly be that people have to miss their daily dose of the Dutch language?!")

Expressions:
– "Zwaar op de hand": ponderous, (a bit) pessimistic. Lit.: heavy on the hand.

Example:
– "Niet zo zwaar op de hand, jongen. Het leven lacht ons toe!"
("Don’t be so pessimistic, dude. Life is smiling at us!")

Related words:
– Erg: 1. severe [adjective]. 2. very, quite [adverb].
– Bezorgd: worried, troubled, concerned [adjective].

Example:
– "Ik ben tenminste bezorgd over de toekomst van mijn kinderen!"
("At least I’m concerned with my children’s future!")

– Serieus: serious [adjective].
– Zorgwekkend: worrying [adjective].
– Kritiek: critical [adjective].