锻 (duàn) - To forge metal & to smith

锻Tone 4

duàn ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

丁恩

锻 · duàn

To forge metal;

to smith;

to temper;

to work metal with heat and hammering;

to practice or discipline rigorously.

To forge metalto smithto temper

Usage highlights

To forgeTo temper; to trainForged steelBlacksmithForging hammerForging workshop

Synonyms

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

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He is forging a sword (锻剑).
  • Steel needs to be tempered (锻造).
  • Regular exercise is a form of physical training (锻炼身体).
  • The blacksmith works at the forge (锻工).

Collocations

  • To forge(锻造)
  • To temper; to train(锻炼)
  • Forged steel(锻钢)
  • Blacksmith(锻工)
  • Forging hammer(锻锤)
  • Forging workshop(锻车间)

Idioms

  • Temper oneself through hardship(千锤百炼)
  • Forged in battle(久经锻炼)
  • To forge ahead(锤炼前行)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically associated with metalworking and blacksmithing, a crucial craft in ancient China.
  • The concept of 'forging' extends metaphorically to personal development and discipline, as in 锻炼 (to train/temper).
  • Represents strength, resilience, and the transformative power of effort and process.

FAQ