钉

釘

dīng, dìng

丁 + 钅

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

dīng (noun) nail

dīng (verb) to follow closely; to keep at

dìng (verb) to nail; to pin; to staple

Etymology

Simplified form of 釘. Phonosemantic compound. 金 represents the meaning and 丁 represents the sound.

About

钉 is the simplified form of the traditional character 釘. It is a phonosemantic compound: the radical 钅 (a shorthand for 金 'metal') conveys the semantic field of metals, tools, and hardware, while 丁 indicates the reading. The core meaning is a nail, spike, or peg made of metal or another hard material. This sense is extended verbally to mean driving a nail into something, fastening objects together, or securing them firmly. The character further developed figurative uses, such as keeping close surveillance on someone or directing one's attention with rigid focus at a target. The character's usage thus spans from a concrete object to physical action and abstract monitoring.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

墙上有一个钉子。

Qiáng shàng yǒu yī gè dīng zi.

There is a nail on the wall.

爸爸用锤子钉钉子。

Bà ba yòng chuí zi dìng dīng zi.

Dad uses a hammer to nail nails.

他把海报钉在公告栏上。

Tā bǎ hǎi bào dìng zài gōng gào lán shàng.

He nails the poster on the bulletin board.

昨天我钉了一个书架。

Zuó tiān wǒ dìng le yī gè shū jià.

Yesterday I nailed a bookshelf.

为了安全，他把窗户钉死了。

Wèi le ān quán, tā bǎ chuāng hu dìng sǐ le.

For safety, he nailed the window shut.

如果你需要钉子，我可以借给你。

Rú guǒ nǐ xū yào dīng zi, wǒ kě yǐ jiè gěi nǐ.

If you need nails, I can lend them to you.

工人正在钉牢脚手架。

Gōng rén zhèng zài dìng láo jiǎo shǒu jià.

The workers are nailing fast the scaffolding.

在装修过程中，钉子的选择至关重要。

Zài zhuāng xiū guò chéng zhōng, dīng zi de xuǎn zé zhì guān zhòng yào.

In the renovation process, the choice of nails is crucial.

Related Characters

Component: 丁

Component: 钅

钉