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钉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
钉dīngnailHSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #3336, Very Hard
钉dīngto follow closelyHSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #3336, Very Hard
钉dīngto keep at sb (to do sth)HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #3336, Very Hard
钉dīngto join things together by fixing them in place at one or more pointsHSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #3336, Very Hard
钉dīngto nailHSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #3336, Very Hard
钉dīngto pinHSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #3336, Very Hard
钉dīngto stapleHSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #3336, Very Hard
钉dīngto sew onHSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #3336, Very Hard
钉dīngnail, spikeHSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #3336, Very Hard
钉dìngnailHSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #3336, Very Hard
钉dìngto follow closelyHSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #3336, Very Hard
钉dìngto keep at sb (to do sth)HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #3336, Very Hard
钉dìngto join things together by fixing them in place at one or more pointsHSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #3336, Very Hard
钉dìngto nailHSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #3336, Very Hard
钉dìngto pinHSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #3336, Very Hard
钉dìngto stapleHSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #3336, Very Hard
钉dìngto sew onHSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #3336, Very Hard
钉dìngnail, spikeHSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #3336, Very Hard
dìng(ding4)
primary
 T4
  1. 1nail
  2. 2to follow closely
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

钉(釘)dìng(ding4)

The character 钉 (dīng) primarily means 'nail' in the context of construction and carpentry. It can also imply the action of joining things together by fixing them in place, as well as the idea of closely following someone or something, akin to 'sticking to' or 'pursuing' an action or person.

Strokes7Radical钅Frequency#3336DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese carpentry, the use of nails (钉) is essential, as it represents a blend of craftsmanship and durability, reflecting the value placed on quality in Chinese building practices.

Memory Tip

Imagine a carpenter hammering a nail (钉) into wood. The radical 钅 (metal) suggests that it is a metal object, and the sound 'dīng' can remind you of the 'ding' sound a hammer makes when it hits the nail.

Meanings of 钉

dìng(ding4)
primary
1nail
2to follow closely
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 钉

钉Simplified
釘Traditional
7Strokes
钅Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3336Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 钉

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Podcast: 钉

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 钉

Quick Contrast

钉 (dīng) vs 固定 (gùdìng) — use 钉 for the physical act of nailing, while 固定 refers to securing or fixing something in place more generally.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context when using 钉, as it can refer to both the physical act of nailing and the figurative sense of pursuing someone. Common collocations include 钉在 (nail in) and 钉住 (pin down). Avoid confusing it with 盯 (dīng), which relates to watching or keeping an eye on someone.

HSK Study Tips

While not specifically listed in HSK levels, 钉 can be associated with practical vocabulary in daily life and construction-related contexts. Focus on using it in sentences related to building or closely following activities.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 钉 with 盯, using it incorrectly in sentences about watching someone. For example, saying '我钉着他' (I nail him) instead of '我盯着他' (I watch him) is a common error.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 钉

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Etymology of 钉

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 釘. Phonosemantic compound. 金 represents the meaning and 丁 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

A metal 钅 nail 丁; 丁 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 钉

Simplified form of 釘. Phonosemantic compound. 金 represents the meaning and 丁 represents the sound.

  1. 1The giveawayA metal 钅 nail 丁; 丁 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 钉? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 钉?

Decomposition of 钉

IDS Structure⿰钅丁
钉Full Character
=
钅jin1
left
丁Ding1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 钉?

How to say nail in Chinese

“nail” in Chinese is钉dīng

The character 钉 (dīng) primarily means 'nail' in the context of construction and carpentry. It can also imply the action of joining things together by fixing them in place, as well as the idea of closely following someone or something, akin to 'sticking to' or 'pursuing' an action or person.

When to use 钉

Be mindful of the context when using 钉, as it can refer to both the physical act of nailing and the figurative sense of pursuing someone. Common collocations include 钉在 (nail in) and 钉住 (pin down). Avoid confusing it with 盯 (dīng), which relates to watching or keeping an eye on someone.

钉 or something close to it

钉 (dīng) vs 固定 (gùdìng) — use 钉 for the physical act of nailing, while 固定 refers to securing or fixing something in place more generally.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 钉 with 盯, using it incorrectly in sentences about watching someone. For example, saying '我钉着他' (I nail him) instead of '我盯着他' (I watch him) is a common error.

Write 钉

钉

Practice writing 钉 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 钉

钉 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 9 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

我尤其喜欢那种用螺____固定在墙上的搁板。

I particularly like the type of shelving that screws to the wall.

Example Sentences for 钉 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我尤其喜欢那种用螺钉固定在墙上的搁板。

wǒ yóu qí xǐ huān nà zhǒng yòng luó dīng gù dìng zài qiáng shàng de gē bǎn。

I particularly like the type of shelving that screws to the wall.
2
“你不需要那么做，”珀尔斩钉截铁地说道。

“ “ nǐ bù xū yào nà mó，” zuò ，” pò ěr zhǎn dīng jié tiě dì。

"You don't need to do that," said Pearl assertively.
3
脚蹬帅气钉靴的足球运动员走进了球场。

jiǎo dēng shuài qì dīng xuē de zú qiú yùn dòng yuán zǒu jìn le qiú cháng。

Footballers in whopping great studded boots walk over the pitch.
4
我把它剪下来钉在我工作室的墙上。

wǒ bǎ tā jiǎn xià lái dīng zài wǒ gōng zuò shì de qiáng shàng。

I cut it out and pinned it to my studio wall.
5
我用拇指指甲把台灯上的螺钉拧紧了。

wǒ yòng mǔ zhǐ zhǐ jiǎ bǎ tái dēng shàng de luó dīng níng jǐn le。

I used my thumbnail to tighten the screw on my lamp.
6
在伦敦，你能看到许多人家的大门上都装有饰钉。

zài lún dūn， ， nǐ néng kàn dào xǔ duō rén jiā de dà mén shàng dū zhuāng yǒu shì。

You see studs on lots of London front doors.
7
如果扎进一颗大头钉,气球就会突然爆开.

rú guǒ zā jìn yī kē dà tóu dīng, , qì qiú jiù huì tū rán bào.

The balloon will pop if you put a pin in it.
8
仅仅是靠缠在门柱钉子上的一小段细绳把门关紧。

jǐn jǐn shì kào chán zài mén zhù dīng zǐ shàng de yī xiǎo duàn xì shéng bǎ mén guān jǐn。

Only a bit of string looped round a nail in the doorpost held it shut.
9
金旺自从碰了小芹的钉子以后,每分怀恨, 总想设法报一报仇.

jīn wàng zì cóng pèng le xiǎo qín de dīng zǐ yǐ hòu, , měi fēn huái, hèn , zǒng xiǎng shè fǎ bào yī.

Ever since Qin rebuffed him, Wang longed for revenge.
10
安东尼肯定会得到提拔，那是板上钉钉的事儿。

ān dōng ní kěn dìng huì dé dào tí bá， ， nà shì bǎn shàng dīng dīng de shì。

Anthony was a dead cert for promotion.

Word Family of 钉

Words Containing This Character19
钉dìngnail釘
钉子dīngzinail釘子
螺钉screw螺釘
铆钉rivet鉚釘
斩钉截铁zhǎndīngjiétiěunhesitating斬釘截鐵
眼中钉a thorn in one's side眼中釘
板上钉钉that clinches it板上釘釘
钉子户householder who refuses to vacate his home despite pressure from property developers釘子戶
螺丝钉screw螺絲釘
钉螺Oncomelania釘螺
图钉thumbtack圖釘
碰钉子pèngdīngzito meet with a rebuff碰釘子
钉耙rake釘耙
钉锤nail hammer釘錘
软钉子lit. a soft nail軟釘子
钉牢to nail down釘牢
钉梢to tail釘梢
铆钉枪rivet gun鉚釘槍
扒钉cramp扒釘
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 钉 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 钉

钉 (dīng) refers to a nail or the action of nailing, while 盯 (dīng) means to keep a close watch or follow someone.

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