The Chinese word 锁匙, meaning "key", is formed by combining the character 锁, which consists of the metal radical 钅 and a phonetic component, denoting "lock", with the character 匙, which consists of the spoon radical 匕 and the phonetic 是, originally meaning "spoon" but here extended to "key". Together, they create a compound word where 锁 represents the lock and 匙 represents the instrument that opens it.