鍊 (liàn) - To smelt, refine (metals) & to temper, forge

鍊Tone 4

liàn ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

鍊 · liàn

To smelt, refine (metals);

to temper, forge;

to train, drill;

to practice assiduously.

To smelt, refine (metals)to temper, forgeto train, drill

Usage highlights

To smeltTo temper, trainTo refine, extractTo practice calligraphyWellRefined, succinct

Synonyms

  • 炼— To smelt, refine (simplified form)
  • 锻— To forge, temper
  • 冶— To smelt, found

Antonyms

  • 生— Raw, unrefined
  • 糙— Coarse, rough

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The factory smelts iron ore (炼铁).
  • He is training hard at the gym (锻炼身体).
  • This process refines crude oil into gasoline (提炼汽油).
  • She has a well-trained mind (精炼的头脑).

Collocations

  • To smelt(冶炼)
  • To temper, train(锻炼)
  • To refine, extract(提炼)
  • To practice calligraphy(练字)
  • Well-trained(老练)
  • Refined, succinct(精炼)

Idioms

  • Tempered a hundred times(百炼成钢)
  • Well-trained troops and ample supplies(兵精粮炼)
  • Refined in the furnace a thousand times(千锤百炼)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically associated with metallurgy and alchemy, particularly the Daoist pursuit of creating elixirs of immortality.
  • The character embodies the concept of improvement through rigorous process and purification.
  • Used metaphorically for self-cultivation, discipline, and the honing of skills.

FAQ