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斩钉截铁

zhǎn dīng jié tiě

HSK 6 4-character word Traditional 斬釘截鐵

What 斩钉截铁 means

1. (lit.) to chop the nail and slice the iron (idiom)
2. (fig.) resolute and decisive; unhesitating; categorical

The characters in 斩钉截铁

• 斩zhǎnto behead (as form of capital punishment); to chop
• 钉dīngnail; to follow closely; to keep at sb (to do sth)
• 截jiéto cut off (a length); to stop; to intercept
• 铁tiěiron (metal); arms; weapons

Example sentences

• 我斩钉截铁地拒绝了。
  I flatly refused.