撞钟 literally means 'to strike a bell' — 撞 (zhuàng) means 'to strike, hit, or bump', and 钟 (zhōng) means 'bell'. Together, they form a verb describing the physical act of hitting a large ceremonial bell, most commonly in Buddhist temples or traditional Chinese ritual contexts. This action is not casual; it carries symbolic weight — marking time, signaling prayer periods, or representing mindfulness and discipline.

The phrase often appears in descriptions of monastic life, New Year celebrations (e.g., ringing the bell 108 times to dispel worldly afflictions), or literary metaphors for routine, duty, or quiet perseverance. While it can refer to literal bell-striking, it’s also used figuratively to suggest going through motions mechanically — similar to 'going through the motions' in English, though with more neutral or even reverent connotations depending on context.