铁腕 (tiě wàn) — (figurative) iron hand/fist; strong, uncompromising methods; strong rule (over a country, organization, or team)

Definition

A noun for 'iron hand' — strict, forceful leadership or rule, usually of a country or organization. Almost always modifies a noun (e.g., 铁腕手段, 铁腕领导人).

noun
(figurative) iron hand/fiststronguncompromising methodsstrong rule (over a country, organization, or team)

Examples

  • 铁腕。
    Zhè wèi zǒng tǒng yǐ tiě wàn shǒu duàn tuī xíng gǎi gé.
    This president pushed through reforms with an iron hand.
  • 铁腕。
    Gōng sī xū yào yí wèi tiě wàn lǐng dǎo lái zhěng dùn jì lǜ.
    The company needs an iron-fisted leader to restore discipline.
  • 铁腕，。
    tiě wàn Tǒng zhì suī rán yǒu xiào, dàn wǎng wǎng yǐn fā zhēng yì.
    Iron-fisted rule, though effective, often sparks controversy.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

铁tiěiron
腕wànwrist

铁 supplies iron strength, 腕 the wrist or hand, forming a metaphor for firm control.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鐵; 铁 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢧤
𢧤𢧤鐵tiě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 鐵 pairs 金 (metal) with 𢧤 as a sound part; the simplified 铁 is a later shorthand.

Open 铁 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat, body part
Sound part声符shēngfú
宛
宛wǎn腕wàn
Same sound today

腕 pairs ⺼ (meat/body part) with 宛, which gives the sound; the ⺼ part marks it as a body part.

Open 腕 →

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