鍛 meaning and stroke order
To temper, to refine; to forge metal
How to write 鍛, stroke by stroke
17 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 鍛
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to forge
- to discipline
- wrought
How 鍛 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Metal.
釒 gives the meaning and 段 hints at the sound.
Radical: 釒 (gold), shared by 135 characters on this site.
How to remember 鍛
The metal radical 釒 on the left tells you this is about metal, and 段 (duàn) on the right gives the sound. Picture a smith beating metal into sections, 段, until it becomes strong.
鍛 (simplified 锻) rarely appears alone. It shows up mostly in words like 锻炼 (duànliàn, to exercise or toughen) and 锻造 (duànzào, to forge). Example: 我每天早上锻炼身体。(Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang duànliàn shēntǐ.) I exercise every morning.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 锻 with 段 (duàn, section) and 缎 (duàn, satin) because all three share the same sound and the 段 part. Check the left side: metal 釒 means forging, silk 纟 means satin, and no radical means section.
Common words with 鍛
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 鍛鍊 | duànliàn | to toughen; to temper | HSK 4 |
| 鍛造 | duànzào | to forge (metal); forging |
Questions about 鍛
How many strokes are in 鍛?
鍛 is written with 17 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 鍛 mean?
鍛 (duàn) means to temper, to refine; to forge metal. A common word with it is 锻炼 (duànliàn), meaning "to toughen; to temper".
How do you pronounce 鍛?
鍛 is pronounced duàn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 鍛?
The radical of 鍛 is 釒, which carries the idea of "gold". Dictionaries list 鍛 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 鍛?
鍛 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 锻, used in mainland China and Singapore.
Does 锻炼 only mean physical exercise?
No. It often means working out, as in 锻炼身体, but it can also mean toughening or training a person through experience, as in 锻炼自己的能力 (duànliàn zìjǐ de nénglì), to build up one's abilities.
What is the difference between 锻炼 and 运动?
运动 (yùndòng) refers to sports or physical activity in general and is also a noun. 锻炼 stresses the purpose of strengthening, and it can also be used for building character or skills, not just the body.