钅
jīn zì páng
Money, locks, clocks and pans all came out of the same metal
The picture A cold hard lump of metal clinging to the left of the character, catching the light. 钅 is cold hard metal, 木 is warm soft wood.
Where the picture shows up in 钅
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the cold hard lump itself
这个门是铁做的,很重。
zhège mén shì tiě zuò de, hěn zhòng
This door is made of iron, so it's heavy.
A hand pressing a cold iron plate that will not give at all
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metal stamped into discs
不好意思,我没带钱。
bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ méi dài qián
Sorry, I didn't bring any money.
Metal cut into rounds, clinking against each other in a palm
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metal biting shut
出门请把门锁好。
chū mén qǐng bǎ mén suǒ hǎo
Please lock the door properly on your way out.
A metal hook clicking shut and holding the door so it cannot move
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metal ringing out the hour
现在是三点钟。
xiànzài shì sān diǎn zhōng
It's three o'clock now.
A metal bell struck once, the sound spreading out to tell the time
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metal beaten hollow
锅里还有一点汤。
guō lǐ hái yǒu yìdiǎn tāng
There's still a little soup in the pot.
An iron pot on the fire heating up and bringing the broth to a boil
All of it in one picture
钅 is one lump of metal set beside a character. Left as it is, it is iron; stamped into discs, it is money. Bent so it bites shut, it is a lock; struck so it rings, it is a bell and a clock. Beaten hollow, it is a pot. Metal on the left means the thing is cold and hard in your hand.