The kanji 鍛 primarily conveys the meaning of "forging," "tempering," or "hammering." It refers to the process of shaping metal, typically iron or steel, by heating it and then striking it with a hammer to give it strength and a desired shape. It extends to the broader concept of refining or improving something through effort and hardship, like training or developing skills.

・On-yomi (音読み): タン (tan) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): きた（える） (kita(eru))

⚫︎鍛える (kitaeru) Translation: To forge; to train; to drill; to temper. ⚫︎鍛錬 (tanren) Translation: Training; discipline; practice. ⚫︎鍛造 (tanzou) Translation: Forging (of metal).

The kanji 鍛 is a 形声文字 (keisei moji), a phono-semantic compound. The phonetic component is 段 (dan), which suggests sound. The semantic component is 金 (kane), which means "metal." The combination of these components suggests the process of working with metal, especially by repeatedly striking it with a hammer. The character historically depicts a blacksmith at work, using fire and a hammer to shape metal.