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道Nihongo Path
鍛

鍛·forge, temper, train

On-yomi
タン
Kun-yomi
きた(える)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

17 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
鍛えるきたえるto train, to forge
鍛冶かじsmithing, blacksmith
鍛錬たんれんtraining, tempering
鍛造たんぞうforging (metalwork)

Example sentences

  1. 毎日泳いで足を鍛えています。

    まいにちおよいであしをきたえています。

    I swim every day to strengthen my legs.

  2. 刀は何度も鍛えて作られる。

    かたなはなんどもきたえてつくられる。

    A sword is made by forging it over and over.

  3. 村には昔から鍛冶屋が一軒あった。

    むらにはむかしからかじやがいっけんあった。

    The village has long had one blacksmith's shop.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 鍛冶 as たんじ — the word is かじ
  • Reading 鍛える as たんえる — the kun reading is きたえる

Memory aid

Picture it

Metal 金 with 段 (steps): the smith hammers the blade step after step, and the same repetition is how you train a body.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 鍛 mean?