鍛 means “forge, temper”

きたえる · kitaeru

Also: discipline, train

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): きたえる
On'yomi (Chinese reading): タン

Taught in secondary school · 17 strokes

The story

Metal (金) placed on a platform (段) and hammered: to forge is to make something stronger through repeated blows. Japanese swordsmiths 鍛える (kitaeru) steel by folding it thousands of times, creating blades of legendary sharpness. The word also means to train one's body and spirit: strength through endurance.

Used in 鍛冶 (kaji, blacksmith), 鍛錬 (tanren, training/tempering), and 鍛える (kitaeru, to forge/train)

鍛 means “forge, temper”

The story

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