to engage in physical exercise; to undergo physical training

To practice Taoist techniques for self-cultivation, such as meditation, breathing exercises, or alchemy, often with the goal of achieving immortality or spiritual power.

to extract metal from ore by heating, melting, or electrolysis

To extract and purify a substance from raw materials or compounds using physical or chemical methods; to process minerals or ore.

to refine petroleum into products like gasoline and kerosene; also used for the physical plant that performs this process

To remove impurities from a substance or to purify materials through processes like heating; to extract the essence of something.

According to Catholic or Orthodox belief, a place where the souls of the dead suffer temporarily to pay for their sins before entering heaven.

to refine or manufacture through processing; used for chemicals, medicines, or materials

to make steel; steelmaking

A factory that processes crude oil into various petroleum products.

to temper or toughen oneself through hard work or difficult experiences; to discipline and train one's character through trial and error

to hammer into shape or temper metal; to forge

to extract iron from iron ore through smelting

Ancient alchemy practiced by Daoists involving the refining of minerals like cinnabar in a furnace to create elixirs for eternal life

to smelt metal ore or refine metal; the process of smelting metal

The ancient practice of attempting to transform common metals into gold or silver; includes ancient Chinese alchemy [[炼丹|煉丹|lian4 dan1]] and Western traditions from the Middle Ages.

to produce coke from coal; the process of heating coal to high temperatures in the absence of air to produce coke, gas, and tar

condensed milk; a dairy product made by evaporating water from milk and often adding sugar for preservation

steel mill; steelworks; a factory where steel or steel alloys are produced

Iron that becomes fine steel through repeated smelting; describes a person who becomes capable and strong after enduring many trials and long-term discipline.

An industrial furnace used for smelting iron ore to produce pig iron

polished and succinct in speech or writing; terse; also can describe being nimble or deft

An industrial furnace used to produce coke from coal at high temperatures, typically for use in ironmaking; coking furnace.

A person of integrity or a high-quality product can stand up to severe tests or any trial

strict discipline or rigorous training; to toughen up through trial or hardship; to temper oneself

Literally "to melt stones to mend the sky"; refers to the myth of the goddess [[女娲|女媧|nu:3 wa1]] repairing the heavens. It describes having supernatural power or making an immense effort to salvage a desperate situation or repair a major flaw.

to refine or process raw materials, such as oil or chemicals

To carefully refine or hone a sentence to make it more concise and precise.

terse; succinct; concise

to become great through hard work and constant practice; literally meaning steel is produced after being tempered many times

exercise or training through physical activity and sports

To perform spiritual cultivation or religious austerities to become a Daoist immortal; figuratively used to mean practice makes perfect.

a furnace used for smelting metal

concise; condensed; compact

The production of steel using traditional, primitive, or makeshift methods

to plasticate; to soften rubber or plastic by mechanical or thermal treatment in preparation for further processing

to plunge heated metal into water or oil to increase its hardness and strength

to process and refine medicinal herbs by heating them to remove moisture or impurities and enhance their efficacy; also written [[炮制|炮製|pao2 zhi4]]

alchemist; practitioner of alchemy

The ancient practice of concocting magic pills for immortality or spiritual transformation; divided into the physical processing of minerals and herbs, known as [[外丹术|外丹術|wai4 dan1 shu4]], and the later internal practice involving meditation and breathing, known as [[内丹术|內丹術|nei4 dan1 shu4]].

to spend a long time thinking about something while remaining unable to reach a decision

smelting works or a workshop for refining metals

a dairy product made by evaporating water from milk and adding sugar; often used in desserts and drinks

To carefully choose and refine the words in a piece of writing to make them more precise and expressive; to rack one's brains for the right word.

To burn away weeds, shrubs, and logging debris on a mountainside in order to clear the land for farming or reforestation.

(literary) a delicacy or choice food item

a factory or facility where sugar is refined

alchemist; a person who practices alchemy

a substance once believed to be capable of changing base metals into gold or of providing eternal life