<p>The name 变形金刚 is created / translated when the origin transformer cartoon series (トランスフォーマー) was bought from Japan.  As with other answers, 金刚 is a common references from the four protector deities - 四大金剛 - that guards the gate of heaven (China) or Buddhist temple (India).  </p>

<p>As to your question, 剛 have a implication of indestructible / unyielding. 金, as a commonly known hardest metal at the time being, is added to the phase to enhance its meaning.  Thus it is widely used such as:  </p>

<p>金剛狼 - wolverine<br>
金剛戰士 - Power Rangers  </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-27T20:59:06.787Z
2018-06-27T21:37:12.583Z
2018-06-27T21:37:12.583Z
Alex
<p>Nothing to do with "钢". Agree with @droooze, just one comment that @droooze is using traditional Chinese. 變形金剛 is just 变形金刚 in simplified Chinese. BTW, there is another translation of 金刚, in English -- King Kong. :)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-27T08:29:08.443Z
2018-06-27T08:29:08.443Z
Bruce Huang
<p>According to <a href="https://wapbaike.baidu.com/item/%E9%87%91%E5%88%9A%E4%B8%8D%E5%9D%8F%E4%B9%8B%E8%BA%AB/20397859" rel="nofollow noreferrer">baidu baike</a>, 金刚 refers to 金刚石 diamond, which is very hard/firm/tough to break. </p>

<p>So, figuratively, 金刚 can refer to someone whose body is as hard/strong/firm as 金刚石, implying he is very strong and powerful. For example, 四大金刚，金刚不坏之身， etc. </p>

<p>变形金刚 is '金刚' whose body can shift and form different objects. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-27T02:43:46.477Z
2018-06-27T02:52:45.837Z
2018-06-27T02:52:45.837Z
dan
<p>「剛」originally meant <em>unyielding/stubborn/strong</em>. <strong>金剛</strong> is a traditional phrase which is also used to translate a Buddhist word from Sanskrit (<strong>वज्र</strong>, <strong><em>vajra</em></strong>).</p>

<p><strong><em>Vajra</em></strong> (PIE root: <em>*weǵ-</em>, English descendants: <em>watch, wake, <strong>vigor</strong>, vigil</em>) is seen by Buddhists as variously a <em>thunderbolt</em> or <em>diamond</em>, symbolising <em>extreme hardness/power/indestructibility</em>, and by semantic extension a kind of symbol or weapon, and further extension a guardian (spirit) which holds this weapon.</p>

<p>As you’ve already seen, 變形金剛 is a reference to Buddhist temple guardian statues (see 四大金剛) which each hold a kind of <em>vajra</em> (the weapon).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-27T16:29:39.427Z
I think a full answer must explain why 金刚 was used to refer to a warrior defending the Buddha.
zhanmusi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-28T10:57:13.277Z
@JamesHill I hope I clarified what I wrote before. Let me know otherwise.
dROOOze
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-26T20:30:10.780Z
2018-06-28T10:57:38.960Z
2018-06-28T10:57:38.960Z
dROOOze
<p>I came across the word 变形金刚 in a short children's story that I read and Pleco dictionary states that it refers to either shape-shifting warriors protecting the Buddha, or Transformers (which Google displays almost exclusively if you search the term).  Obviously the connection between the 2 meanings is clear.</p>

<p>But I'm unsure what is the meaning of 刚 in this phrase.  I asked my wife but she even believed the character is 钢 so didn't have a suitable answer.</p>

<p>Is there a historic meaning of 刚, or a historical transformation (!) from another character to this current one, which would enlighten me as to why this character is used in this phrase?</p>

<meaning><character-components>
What is the meaning of 刚 in 变形金刚?
# What is the meaning of 刚 in 变形金刚?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-06-26)

I came across the word 变形金刚 in a short children's story that I read and Pleco dictionary states that it refers to either shape-shifting warriors protecting the Buddha, or Transformers (which Google displays almost exclusively if you search the term). Obviously the connection between the 2 meanings is clear.

But I'm unsure what is the meaning of 刚 in this phrase. I asked my wife but she even believed the character is 钢 so didn't have a suitable answer.

Is there a historic meaning of 刚, or a historical transformation (!) from another character to this current one, which would enlighten me as to why this character is used in this phrase?

**Tags:** meaning, character-components


---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-06-26. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

「剛」originally meant *unyielding/stubborn/strong*. **金剛** is a traditional phrase which is also used to translate a Buddhist word from Sanskrit (**वज्र**, ***vajra***).

***Vajra*** (PIE root: *\*weǵ-*, English descenusername_3ts: *watch, wake, **vigor**, vigil*) is seen by Buddhists as variously a *thunderbolt* or *diamond*, symbolising *extreme hardness/power/indestructibility*, and by semantic extension a kind of symbol or weapon, and further extension a guardian (spirit) which holds this weapon.

As you’ve already seen, 變形金剛 is a reference to Buddhist temple guardian statues (see 四大金剛) which each hold a kind of *vajra* (the weapon).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I think a full answer must explain why 金刚 was used to refer to a warrior defending the Buddha.  
> **username_4**: @JamesHill I hope I clarified what I wrote before. Let me know otherwise.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-06-27. Score: 2

The name 变形金刚 is created / translated when the origin transformer cartoon series (トランスフォーマー) was bought from Japan. As with other answers, 金刚 is a common references from the four protector deities - 四大金剛 - that guards the gate of heaven (China) or Buddhist temple (India).

As to your question, 剛 have a implication of indestructible / unyielding. 金, as a commonly known hardest metal at the time being, is added to the phase to enhance its meaning. Thus it is widely used such as:

金剛狼 - wolverine  
金剛戰士 - Power Rangers


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-06-27. Score: 1

Nothing to do with "钢". Agree with @droooze, just one comment that @droooze is using traditional Chinese. 變形金剛 is just 变形金刚 in simplified Chinese. BTW, there is another translation of 金刚, in English -- King Kong. :)


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-06-27. Score: 1

According to [baidu baike](https://wapbaike.baidu.com/item/%E9%87%91%E5%88%9A%E4%B8%8D%E5%9D%8F%E4%B9%8B%E8%BA%AB/20397859), 金刚 refers to 金刚石 diamond, which is very hard/firm/tough to break.

So, figuratively, 金刚 can refer to someone whose body is as hard/strong/firm as 金刚石, implying he is very strong and powerful. For example, 四大金刚，金刚不坏之身， etc.

变形金刚 is '金刚' whose body can shift and form different objects.


---

