铁 (tiě) - Iron — a hard, strong, magnetic metal & metaphorically meaning strong, firm, unyielding, or unbreakable.

铁Tone 3

tiě ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

檀婷

铁 · tiě

Iron — a hard, strong, magnetic metal;

metaphorically meaning strong, firm, unyielding, or unbreakable.

Iron — a hard, strong, magnetic metalmetaphorically meaning strong, firm, unyielding, or unbreakable.

Usage highlights

Iron and steelRailwayIron rice bowlIronclad proofIron womanIron fist

Synonyms

  • 钢— Steel (a stronger, refined form of iron)

Antonyms

  • 柔— Soft; gentle; yielding
  • 弱— Weak; feeble

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The bridge is made of iron (铁桥).
  • He has an iron will (钢铁意志).
  • We traveled by railway (铁路).
  • This is an ironclad rule (铁定的规则).

Collocations

  • Iron and steel(钢铁)
  • Railway(铁路)
  • Iron rice bowl(铁饭碗)
  • Ironclad proof(铁证)
  • Iron woman(铁娘子)
  • Iron fist(铁拳)

Idioms

  • As close as iron brothers(铁哥们)
  • An ironclad case(铁案如山)
  • Tempered in blood and fire(血与火的锤炼)
  • An iron army(铁军)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Iron has been a symbol of strength, durability, and resilience in Chinese culture for millennia.
  • The 'Iron Rice Bowl' (铁饭碗) refers to a job with lifelong security, a concept from the era of state-owned enterprises.
  • Historically, control over iron production was crucial for military power and agricultural tools.

FAQ