Does 鉄拳 mean "fist" or "iron fist"?


The [kanji for 鉄拳](http://jisho.org/kanji/details/%E9%89%84%E6%8B%B3) seems to
suggest that the word means "iron fist". However, various dictionaries
suggests that the meaning is simply "fist".

For example, [Edict](http://www.edrdg.org/cgi-
bin/wwwjdic/wwwjdic?1MUJ%E9%89%84%E6%8B%B3) shows that the meaning for 鉄拳 is
"fist", and the meaning for 鉄拳制裁 is "punishment by striking with fist".

[Kotobank](http://kotobank.jp/jeword/%E9%89%84%E6%8B%B3),
[Excite.co.jp](http://www.excite.co.jp/dictionary/english_japanese/?search=%E9%89%84%E6%8B%B3&match=beginswith&dictionary=NEW_EJJE&block=63807&offset=1902&title=%E9%89%84%E6%8B%B3),
and [Goo](http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/leaf/je2/51585/m0u/%E9%89%84%E6%8B%B3/)
also show that the meaning is "a (clenched) fist".

Does 鉄拳 mean "fist" or "iron fist"?

How does it's meaning and usage compare with [拳](http://www.edrdg.org/cgi-
bin/wwwjdic/wwwjdic?1MUJ@kobushi) (こぶし)?




An excerpt from 広辞苑's definition for 鉄拳:

> 堅く握りかためたこぶし。にぎりこぶし。げんこつ。

In short, こぶし means fist, while 鉄拳 means more specifically a _tightly
clenched_ fist. This should come as no surprise to you, as you've already
looked it up in dictionaries which say so.

It's true that it literally means "iron fist", but it isn't generally used for
its literal meaning. Instead, it's figurative: when you tightly clench your
fist, it's strong and unyielding like a fist of iron.




An excerpt from 広辞苑's definition for 鉄拳:

> 堅く握りかためたこぶし。にぎりこぶし。げんこつ。

In short, こぶし means fist, while 鉄拳 means more specifically a _tightly
clenched_ fist. This should come as no surprise to you, as you've already
looked it up in dictionaries which say so.

It's true that it literally means "iron fist", but it isn't generally used for
its literal meaning. Instead, it's figurative: when you tightly clench your
fist, it's strong and unyielding like a fist of iron.

