How to Write 锭 (dìng) — Meaning “ingot; spindle”

Picture a metal (钅) object that is 'fixed' or 'settled' (定) into a solid block, like a gold ingot. The word 'dìng' sounds like 'ding', which reminds you of the sound a metal ingot makes when dropped on a hard surface.

Write the radical 钅 first, starting with the left slant, then horizontal, followed by the vertical hook and two horizontal lines inside; make sure the bottom horizontal is slightly longer. The right part 定 has a top dot, then a horizontal line, and then a vertical stroke reaching down through the middle; a common mistake is writing the right side too wide or forgetting the dot on top.

锭 means 'ingot' or 'spindle', while 铐 (kào) means 'handcuffs' and 铑 (lǎo) is the metal 'rhodium'. Visually, 锭 has the right side 定, 铐 has 考 (kǎo) on the right, and 铑 has 老 (lǎo) on the right. The different right components change both the pronunciation and meaning completely.

锭 is often used in the words 金锭 (gold ingot) and 银锭 (silver ingot), which were historically used as currency or wealth symbols in China. Today, it appears in medicine as 药锭 (medicinal lozenge) or in descriptions of spindle-shaped objects. Culturally, gold ingots (金锭) are a popular motif during Chinese New Year as symbols of prosperity.

Common words containing 锭 include: 金锭 (jīn dìng) — Gold ingot (Simplified); 银锭 (yín dìng) — Silver ingot; 药锭 (yào dìng) — Medicinal tablet or lozenge.