打铁趁热 dǎtiěchènrè strike while the iron is hot Definitions Defs Origin Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 打铁 打鐵 dǎtiě to forge iron to forge ironware by hand; to work as a blacksmith趁热 趁熱 chènrè while it's hot while something is still warm or hot, usually referring to food or drink; also used figuratively to mean acting before it is too late