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鍛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鍛duànto temper, to refine; to forge metalzg, 17 strokes, radical 釒
duàn(duan4) T4
  1. 1to temper, to refine; to forge metal
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March 24, 2026

鍛duàn(duan4)

The character 鍛 (duàn) means 'to temper' or 'to refine,' particularly in the context of forging metal. It is commonly used to describe the process of making a material stronger or more durable, as in metallurgy, but can also apply metaphorically to personal development or skills improvement.

Strokes17Radical釒
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 'forging' extends beyond metalwork; it symbolizes personal growth through challenges, reflecting the idea that hardship can lead to strength and resilience.

Memory Tip

Imagine a blacksmith forging a sword in a fiery furnace. The character 鍛 has the component 钅 (metal) indicating its relation to metalwork, while the 'duàn' sound can be remembered as the sound of the hammer striking the metal, shaping it into something stronger.

Meanings of 鍛

duàn(duan4)
1to temper, to refine; to forge metal
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鍛

鍛Simplified
17Strokes
釒Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鍛

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Podcast: 鍛

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AI Study Notes for 鍛

Quick Contrast

锻 (duàn) vs 锤 (chuí) — use 鍛 for the process of refining materials, while 锤 refers specifically to the tool used in that process.

Usage Notes

This character is often used in formal contexts, especially in technical discussions about metalworking. A common collocation is 鍛煉 (duànliàn), meaning 'to temper' or 'to train,' which can refer to physical fitness or skill development. Be careful with the tone; the first tone in 'duàn' can be confused with other characters.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鍛 is not on the HSK list, it is related to words like 锻炼 (duànliàn) from HSK 3, which means 'to exercise' or 'to train.' Students should focus on the connection between physical and metaphorical uses of the term.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 鍛 (duàn) with other characters with similar sounds, such as 断 (duàn), which means 'to break.' Always remember the metal radical 钅 in 鍛 to avoid this mix-up.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鍛

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Etymology of 鍛

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 鍛. Phonosemantic compound. 金 represents the meaning and 段 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

metal

Semantic (meaning)釒
+
Phonetic (sound)段
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

鍛 = 釒 + 段. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鍛

IDS Structure⿰釒段
鍛Full Character
=
釒jin1
left
段Duan4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鍛?

How to say to temper, to refine; to forge metal in Chinese

“to temper, to refine; to forge metal” in Chinese is鍛duàn

The character 鍛 (duàn) means 'to temper' or 'to refine,' particularly in the context of forging metal. It is commonly used to describe the process of making a material stronger or more durable, as in metallurgy, but can also apply metaphorically to personal development or skills improvement.

When to use 鍛

This character is often used in formal contexts, especially in technical discussions about metalworking. A common collocation is 鍛煉 (duànliàn), meaning 'to temper' or 'to train,' which can refer to physical fitness or skill development. Be careful with the tone; the first tone in 'duàn' can be confused with other characters.

鍛 or something close to it

锻 (duàn) vs 锤 (chuí) — use 鍛 for the process of refining materials, while 锤 refers specifically to the tool used in that process.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 鍛 (duàn) with other characters with similar sounds, such as 断 (duàn), which means 'to break.' Always remember the metal radical 钅 in 鍛 to avoid this mix-up.

Write 鍛

鍛

Practice writing 鍛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 鍛

Words Containing This Character4
锻炼duànliànto toughen鍛鍊
锻造forging鍛造
锻duànto forge鍛
锻铁wrought iron鍛鐵
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 鍛

What does 锻炼 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鍛

It can mean to refine one's skills or character through training and experience.

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