鍛錬・鍛練|たんれんtanren[1]atamadaka (head-high)
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Which spelling to use
鍛錬鍛錬 is the more common kanji-only form and the recommended choice for learners; use it as your default when writing this word.
鍛練鍛練 is a less common kanji-only variant of 鍛錬; you may encounter it, but learners should normally choose 鍛錬 instead.
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbtempering (metal); annealing; forging
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbtoughening; disciplining; training
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 鍛錬する（たんれんする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 鍛錬します（たんれんします） |
| Negative (nai) | 鍛錬しない（たんれんしない） |
| polite (masen) | 鍛錬しません（たんれんしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 鍛錬せず・鍛錬せぬ（たんれんせず・たんれんせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 鍛錬した（たんれんした） |
| polite (mashita) | 鍛錬しました（たんれんしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 鍛錬しなかった（たんれんしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 鍛錬しませんでした（たんれんしませんでした） |
| Te form | 鍛錬して（たんれんして） |
| Potential | 鍛錬できる（たんれんできる） |
| Passive | 鍛錬される（たんれんされる） |
| Causative | 鍛錬させる（たんれんさせる） |
| Causative passive | 鍛錬させられる（たんれんさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 鍛錬すれば（たんれんすれば） |
| tara | 鍛錬したら（たんれんしたら） |
| Volitional | 鍛錬しよう（たんれんしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 鍛錬しましょう（たんれんしましょう） |
| Imperative | 鍛錬しろ（たんれんしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym鍛えるきたえるNeutralThe everyday verb for training or tempering; the most common of these words, as in 「体を鍛える」.
- Related修練しゅうれんWrittenA written/formal word for rigorously honing skill and spirit; 「鍛錬」 also covers forging metal, stressing repeated hammering.
- Related修業しゅうぎょうWrittenWritten/formal: learning an art or academic subject, and also completing a course of study; the emphasis is on study rather than tempering.
- Related切磋琢磨せっさたくまWrittenWritten four-character idiom for polishing oneself through study, typically with peers spurring one another on; mutual encouragement is its usual emphasis.
- Related修行しゅぎょうNeutralOriginally a Buddhist term for ascetic practice and rigorous training; carries religious or austere overtones that 「鍛錬」 lacks.
- Related鍛えきたえNeutralNative-Japanese noun for the degree to which one has been trained, or for forging metal; close to 「鍛錬」 but more colloquial.
For physical training, use the everyday verb 「鍛える」. In written prose, 「鍛錬」 fits long, rigorous tempering of body and mind, as in 「心身の鍛錬」. For learning an art, use 「修業」; for Buddhist or austere practice, 「修行」; for peers spurring each other, 「切磋琢磨」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
