锻

鍛

duàn

段 + 钅

Definitions

duàn (verb) to forge; to work metal

duàn (verb) to discipline; to train

Etymology

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

Semantic: 钅 Phonetic: 段

About

The character 锻 originated as a phono-semantic compound. The left component, 钅 (the simplified form of 金), indicates its semantic category: metalworking. The right component, 段, provides the phonetic element. Its core meaning originally described the process of heating and hammering metal to forge tools or weapons. This concept later extended metaphorically to mean strengthening or tempering the body and mind through rigorous training, as seen in the modern word for physical exercise.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我每天锻炼身体。

Wǒ měi tiān duànliàn shēntǐ.

I exercise every day.

锻炼对健康很有益。

Duànliàn duì jiànkāng hěn yǒuyì.

Exercise is very beneficial for health.

工人们正在锻造钢铁。

Gōngrénmen zhèngzài duànzào gāngtiě.

The workers are forging steel.

他通过锻炼提高了耐力。

Tā tōngguò duànliàn tígāo le nàilì.

He improved his endurance through exercise.

锻造工艺需要高温和压力。

Duànzào gōngyì xūyào gāowēn hé yālì.

The forging process requires high temperature and pressure.

为了参加比赛，她坚持锻炼了三个月。

Wèile cānjiā bǐsài, tā jiānchí duànliàn le sān gè yuè.

In order to participate in the competition, she persisted in exercising for three months.

这种金属经过锻造后变得非常坚固。

Zhè zhǒng jīnshǔ jīngguò duànzào hòu biàn dé fēicháng jiāngù.

This metal becomes very strong after being forged.

虽然天气不好，但他仍然去健身房锻炼。

Suīrán tiānqì bù hǎo, dàn tā réngrán qù jiànshēnfáng duànliàn.

Although the weather is bad, he still goes to the gym to exercise.

Related Characters

Component: 段

Component: 钅

锻