JLPT N1 · 16 strokes
Kanji 錬: "tempering, refine, drill"
The kanji 錬 means "tempering, refine, drill, train, polish". It is written with 16 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N1, read レン in on'yomi and ね.る in kun'yomi.
Stroke order
Strokes are written in the order of the numbers. The order is not decorative: it is what gives the character its balance, and it is also how handwriting search works in Japanese dictionaries.
Readings
On'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading)
レン
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
ね.る
In a kun'yomi reading, the dot separates the kanji from its okurigana: かた.る is read かたる and written 語る. A hyphen marks a bound position, like -び in 日.
At a glance
| Meaning | tempering, refine, drill, train, polish |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 16 |
| JLPT level | N1 |
| Taught in Japan | secondary school |
| Frequency rank | 2221 of 2,501 |
Common words with 錬
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 鍛錬tempering (metal); annealing; forging · toughening; disciplining; training
- 錬金術alchemy · way of making money; moneymaker; money-spinner
- 錬金術師alchemist
- 錬成training; drilling; strengthening · use of alchemy; producing (gold, etc.) with alchemy
- 百戦錬磨veteran; battle-worn; schooled by adversity in many battles; hard-bitten
- 精錬refining; refinement; smelting · training
- 自己鍛錬self-discipline; self-improvement
- 錬るto temper (steel)
- 錬鉄wrought iron
- 鋼の錬金術師Fullmetal Alchemist (manga by Hiromu Arakawa; media franchise)
- 百錬well-tempered; well drilled; well trained
- 精錬所refinery; smelting works
Keep going
Read real Japanese, not lists
A kanji list does not teach you to read. KanjiYome puts furigana and a dictionary on any Japanese text, offline, and turns the words you meet into review cards.