钉子 dīngzi nail
nail; snag; saboteur
How to remember 钉子: 钉 nail + 子 child = nail.
Characters
How it is used
- 'A nail' - 钉子 (dīngzi) - 把钉子钉进墙里 (bǎ dīngzi dìng jìn qiáng lǐ) drive the nail into the wall.
- Figuratively a 'snag/thorn': 碰钉子 (pèng dīngzi) = to be rebuffed / hit a wall; 钉子户 = a holdout resisting demolition.
- Note the verb 钉 (dìng, to nail) shares the character; the noun 钉子 is dīng.