Chinese–EnglishWith examples

锻炼

duàn liàn · duan lian

Traditional 鍛鍊

HSK 4Old HSK 3

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to toughen
  2. to temper
  3. to engage in physical exercise
  4. to work out
  5. (fig.) to develop one's skills
  6. to train oneself
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In a conversation

0:15 cartoon

Taking the stairs

  1. Dengdeng

    你(nǐ)怎么(zěnme)不(bù)坐(zuò)电梯(diàntī)？

    Why aren't you taking the elevator?

  2. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)锻炼(duànliàn)身体(shēntǐ)，走(zǒu)楼梯(lóutī)。

    I want to exercise, so I take the stairs.

  3. Dengdeng

    可是(kěshì)我们(wǒmen)在(zài)二十(èrshí)楼(lóu)！

    But we are on the 20th floor!

  4. Liangliang

    没问题(méiwèntí)，锻炼(duànliàn)就是(jiùshì)要(yào)多(duō)走(zǒu)。

    No problem. Exercise means walking more.

  5. Dengdeng

    好(hǎo)，我(wǒ)在(zài)楼下(lóuxià)的(de)咖啡店(kāfēidiàn)等(děng)你(nǐ)。

    Okay, I will wait for you at the cafe downstairs.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

她(tā)锻(duàn)炼(liàn)时(shí)扭(niǔ)伤(shāng)了(le)脚(jiǎo)踝(huái)。

She twisted her ankle while she was doing exercise.

Tatoeba: Chinese by verdastelo9604 · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

住(zhù)在(zài)大(dà)城(chéng)市(shì)的(de)人(rén)们(men)一(yì)般(bān)都(dōu)缺(quē)乏(fá)锻(duàn)炼(liàn)。

People living in a big city tend to lack exercise.

Tatoeba: Chinese by wangzi0921 · English by CM · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

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How to write

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
锻
duàn

to forge; to discipline

炼
liàn

to refine; to smelt

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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