Definitions

kòu (verb) to button; to fasten; to buckle
kòu (noun) button; buckle
kòu (verb) to deduct (money); discount
kòu (verb) to confiscate; to arrest
kòu (verb) to knock; to hit

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "扣" is structured with a hand radical (扌) alongside the phonetic component "口", indicating its early association with manual actions such as knocking or striking. Over time, its semantic range expanded to include meanings like fastening, as in buttoning clothes, which is represented by the traditional form "釦" that incorporates a metal radical (金) to denote metallic fasteners. From the core idea of applying pressure or restraint, further extended meanings emerged, including deducting from a sum or detaining a person, reflecting conceptual shifts from physical actions to abstract applications.

Example Sentences Hide

好安全带。

Qǐng kòu hǎo ānquán dài.

Please fasten your seatbelt.

他把上了。

Tā bǎ kòuzi kòu shàngle.

He buttoned up his button.

老师了我五分。

Lǎoshī kòule wǒ wǔ fēn.

The teacher deducted five points from me.

球非常厉害。

Tā kòu qiú fēichāng lìhai.

He is very good at spiking the ball.

因为迟到,他被了工资。

Yīnwèi chídào, tā bèi kòule gōngzī.

Because he was late, his salary was deducted.

公司除了他的部分奖金。

Gōngsī kòuchúle tā de bùfen jiǎngjīn.

The company deducted part of his bonus.

警察留了违章车辆。

Jǐngchá kòuliúle wéizhāng chēliàng.

The police detained the vehicle that violated the rules.

由于多次违规,他的驾照被留了三个月。

Yóuyú duō cì wéiguī, tā de jiàzhào bèi kòuliúle sān gè yuè.

Due to multiple violations, his driver's license was suspended for three months.