Isothermal heat treatments to Si-Mn-Mo steel specimens were performed, and time-temperature-transformation curves (C-curves) were plotted by DIL805A/D differential dilatometer. The effect of rare earth (RE) elements on bainite transformation kinetics was systematically studied by adopting the empirical electron theory of solids and molecules, Johnson-Mehl-Avrami equation calculation, dilatometry, and metallography. Experimental results show that the addition of RE in Si-Mn-Mo bainite steels leads to the C-curves moving to bottom right and prolongs incubation period of bainite transformation. Moreover, RE addition increases the values of phase structure factors (n A, F C D ) and activation energy of bainite transformation, inhibits the formation of granular bainite, and refines microstructures of bainitic ferrite and substructures. During the bainite transformation process, bainite transformation is delayed due to the drag effect, which is induced by the segregation of RE at the ferrite interphase and the retardation of Fe-C-RE (segregation units) on carbon diffusion.