iron hammer; metal hammer
Literal meaning: a hammer made of iron. Used in historical or descriptive contexts.
鍛冶屋が鉄槌で熱した鉄を打つ。
The blacksmith strikes the heated iron with an iron hammer.
crushing blow; severe punishment; devastating strike
Figurative use, often in the set phrase 鉄槌を下す (to deliver a crushing blow, to punish severely). Implies a decisive, harsh action.
See also: 鉄槌を下す
裁判所は悪質な業者に鉄槌を下した。
The court delivered a crushing blow to the malicious business.
彼の不正行為に上司が鉄槌を下すだろう。
His boss will likely bring down the hammer on his misconduct.
ハンマー is the common loanword for any hammer, while 鉄槌 specifically refers to an iron hammer or its figurative crushing force.
crushing blow; heavy blow; hard blow
Standard kanji spelling for both literal and figurative senses.
Variant kanji form; 鎚 is a less common character for hammer.
Compound of 鉄 (iron) and 槌 (hammer). The figurative sense derives from the image of striking with an iron hammer.