鍛錬
鍛錬 refers to the rigorous training or discipline of the mind, body, or skills to achieve strength and perfection. It originates from the process of a blacksmith forging metal through repeated heating and hammering to remove impurities.
Examples
3 of 5健康のために、毎日体を鍛錬しています。
I train my body every day for my health.
精神の鍛錬は、我が校の教育方針の根幹であります。
Mental discipline is the core of our school's educational policy.
もっと鍛錬しないと、試合には勝てないよ。
If you don't train harder, you won't win the match.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Look at the kanji: 鍛 means 'forge' and 錬 means 'refine.' Imagine a blacksmith hammering a glowing sword over and over to make it strong—that is Tanren.
Quick Quiz
一流の料理人になるためには、毎日の＿＿＿が欠かせない。
Correct!
The correct answer is: 鍛錬
Examples
健康のために、毎日体を鍛錬しています。
everydayI train my body every day for my health.
精神の鍛錬は、我が校の教育方針の根幹であります。
formalMental discipline is the core of our school's educational policy.
もっと鍛錬しないと、試合には勝てないよ。
informalIf you don't train harder, you won't win the match.
長年の鍛錬によって、彼は卓越した技術を習得した。
academicThrough years of rigorous training, he acquired outstanding skills.
厳しい鍛錬を積んだ職人のみが、この製品を作ることができます。
businessOnly craftsmen who have undergone rigorous training can create this product.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
百錬の鋼
Steel tempered a hundred times (refers to a person of indomitable will)
不撓不屈の鍛錬
Indomitable training
技の鍛錬
Refinement of technique
Often Confused With
Kunren (training) is often for specific tasks or drills, while Tanren implies a long-term, arduous process of forging one's character or deep skill.
Renshuu is general practice (like piano or soccer), whereas Tanren suggests a much more intense, stoic level of discipline.
Usage Notes
鍛錬 is most commonly used in the context of martial arts, traditional crafts, or spiritual development. It carries a nuance of 'hardening' someone through difficulty, much like metal in a forge.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use this word for casual activities. Do not use 鍛錬 for light hobbies; use 練習 instead for something like 'practicing guitar for 10 minutes.'
Memory Tip
Look at the kanji: 鍛 means 'forge' and 錬 means 'refine.' Imagine a blacksmith hammering a glowing sword over and over to make it strong—that is Tanren.
Word Origin
Derived from the metallurgical process of smelting and hammering iron to create high-quality steel (smithing).
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
This word reflects the Japanese cultural emphasis on 'michi' (the Way), where repetitive, grueling practice is seen as a path to spiritual enlightenment and mastery.
Quick Quiz
一流の料理人になるためには、毎日の＿＿＿が欠かせない。
Correct!
The correct answer is: 鍛錬
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
往復
A1A round trip or travel back and forth between two locations. It refers to the act of going to a destination and returning to the starting point.
片道
A1A noun referring to a one-way trip or journey from one place to another without returning. It is most commonly used when purchasing transportation tickets or describing travel duration.
経路
A1A route or path taken to get from one place to another. It can also describe the logical steps or channels through which information or things move.
距離
A1Kyori refers to the physical amount of space between two points or objects. It can also be used figuratively to describe the psychological or emotional gap between people in a relationship.
方向
A1Refers to the physical way something is pointing or moving, as well as the abstract path or course of action taken. It is commonly used to describe spatial orientation or the general trend of a situation or project.
位置
A1Refers to the specific physical or abstract place where someone or something is situated. It is frequently used in contexts involving maps, coordinates, or the relative arrangement of objects.
到着
A1The act of reaching a specific destination after traveling. It can refer to people, vehicles, or physical items like mail and luggage arriving at a place.
経由
A1Refers to the act of traveling 'via' or 'by way of' a specific location, or passing information/documents through an intermediary. It is used to describe a route that includes a stopover or a channel through which something is transmitted.
地点
A1A specific point or location on a map or in space. It is often used to denote a precise spot for technical, geographic, or formal purposes rather than a general area.
目的地
A1目的地 refers to a specific place where someone is going or where a journey ends. It combines the words for 'purpose' and 'ground/place' to describe the physical target of movement or travel.
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