鍛 (duàn) - To forge & to smith

鍛Tone 4

duàn ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

丁恩

鍛 · duàn

To forge;

to smith;

to work metal;

to practice and improve through training.

To forgeto smithto work metal

Usage highlights

ForgingPhysical exerciseForged steelForging workshopForging processTraining and tempering

Synonyms

  • 炼— to smelt; to refine
  • 铸— to cast; to found

Antonyms

  • 毁— to destroy; to ruin
  • 废— to abandon; to discard

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The blacksmith forges iron (锻造铁器).
  • He exercises to build muscle (锻炼肌肉).
  • This process requires tempering (需要锻炼).
  • We need to train our skills (我们需要锻炼技能).

Collocations

  • Forging(锻造)
  • Physical exercise(锻炼)
  • Forged steel(锻钢)
  • Forging workshop(锻工车间)
  • Forging process(锻压)
  • Training and tempering(锻炼)

Idioms

  • Tempered through a hundred battles(百炼成钢)
  • Forged and refined(锻炼周纳)
  • Forged in hardship(千锤百炼)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically associated with metalworking and blacksmithing traditions in China.
  • Metaphorically extended to mean self-improvement through disciplined practice.
  • Represents the Confucian ideal of self-cultivation through persistent effort.

FAQ