锻 meaning and stroke order
To temper, to refine; to forge metal
How to write 锻, stroke by stroke
14 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 锻
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to forge
- to discipline
- wrought
How 锻 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Metal.
钅 gives the meaning and 段 hints at the sound.
Radical: 钅 (gold), shared by 223 characters on this site.
How to remember 锻
锻 is metal 钅 plus 段 (duàn), which gives the sound. Picture a smith hammering a bar of metal 钅 section by section, since 段 means a section or segment.
On its own 锻 is rare. It mostly appears in 锻炼 (duànliàn), which means to exercise or to toughen yourself, and in 锻造 (duànzào), to forge metal. Example: 我每天早上锻炼身体。(Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang duànliàn shēntǐ.) I exercise every morning.
Common mistake: Learners often write 段 or 缎 (duàn, satin) instead of 锻, because all three sound the same. Remember that forging involves metal, so 锻 needs the 钅 radical, while 缎 uses the silk radical 纟.
Common words with 锻
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 锻炼 | duànliàn | to toughen; to temper | HSK 4 |
| 锻造 | duànzào | to forge (metal); forging |
锻 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 锻
How many strokes are in 锻?
锻 is written with 14 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 锻 mean?
锻 (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 锻?
锻 is pronounced duàn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 锻?
The radical of 锻 is 钅, which carries the idea of "gold". Dictionaries list 锻 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 锻?
The traditional form of 锻 is 鍛. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 锻 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 锻 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 锻 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 锻炼 and 运动?
运动 (yùndòng) means sports or physical movement in general. 锻炼 stresses building strength or character through training, and it can also mean being toughened by hard experience, as in 在工作中锻炼自己.
Can 锻炼 be used for things other than physical exercise?
Yes. You can 锻炼 your abilities or willpower, for example 锻炼能力 (duànliàn nénglì), to develop your skills. This links back to the original idea of tempering metal until it becomes strong.