键

鍵

jiàn

建 + 钅

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

jiàn (noun) key (on keyboard or piano); button

jiàn (noun) chemical bond

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 建 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鍵.

Semantic: 钅 Phonetic: 建

About

键 is a phono-semantic compound: the metal radical 钅 on the left signals a metal object, while 建 (jiàn) provides the sound. It is the simplified form of 鍵, which uses the full metal radical 金. Originally this character referred to the linchpin of a wheel hub or the metal bolt for locking a door or gate. Because such a pin or bolt is the component that holds an entire mechanism together, its meaning abstractly shifted to the crucial or essential element of any situation, and later extended to the physical keys of pianos, typewriters, and computer keyboards.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个键盘很便宜。

Zhège jiànpán hěn piányi.

This keyboard is very cheap.

关键时候要冷静。

Guānjiàn shíhòu yào lěngjìng.

Stay calm at critical moments.

请按下这个按键。

Qǐng ànxià zhège ànjiàn.

Please press this button.

电脑的键位要熟悉。

Diànnǎo de jiànwèi yào shúxī.

You need to be familiar with the computer's key positions.

快捷键能提高工作效率。

Kuàijié jiàn néng tígāo gōngzuò xiàolǜ.

Shortcut keys can improve work efficiency.

他定制了一个机械键盘。

Tā dìngzhìle yīgè jīxiè jiànpán.

He customized a mechanical keyboard.

如果你忘记了密码，重置键在这里。

Rúguǒ nǐ wàngjìle mìmǎ, chóngzhì jiàn zài zhèlǐ.

If you forget the password, the reset key is here.

在编程中，理解关键代码的逻辑至关重要。

Zài biānchéng zhōng, lǐjiě guānjiàn dàimǎ de luójí zhì guān zhòngyào.

In programming, understanding the logic of key code is crucial.

Related Characters

Component: 建

Component: 钅

键