钉 dīng nail
nail; spike
How to remember 钉: 钅 gold + 丁 nail = nail. The rich man hangs his painting on a gold nail and tells the guests it is no ordinary nail.
Component breakdown
钉 = 钅 gold + 丁 nail
- 钅 gold
- 丁 nail
The rich man hangs his painting on a gold nail and tells the guests it is no ordinary nail.
How it is used
- The metal nail 钉子 (dīngzi), and as a verb (4th tone, dìng) to nail/fix in place: 把画钉在墙上 (bǎ huà dìng zài qiáng shang) nail the picture to the wall.
- Figurative 碰钉子 (pèng dīngzi) 'to bump into a nail' = to get rebuffed/turned down, e.g. asking a favor and being refused.
- In 斩钉截铁 (zhǎndīng-jiétiě) it means resolute and decisive, speaking without any hedging.