Definitions

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

Etymology

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

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "键", whose traditional form is "鍵", structurally combines the metal radical with the component "建", originally referring to metal bolts or latches that secured doors or crossbars. Its meaning gradually expanded from these specific hardware objects to encompass anything serving as a crucial fastening or pivotal mechanism, which then allowed it to analogically represent essential components in various contexts. This semantic broadening eventually led to its application for denoting the keys of musical instruments and, subsequently, the buttons on mechanical and electronic input devices, reflecting an adaptation from tangible locking elements to abstract functional interfaces while maintaining its metallic connotations through its radical.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个盘很便宜。

Zhège jiànpán hěn piányi.

This keyboard is very cheap.

时候要冷静。

Guānjiàn shíhòu yào lěngjìng.

Stay calm at critical moments.

请按下这个按

Qǐng ànxià zhège ànjiàn.

Please press this button.

电脑的位要熟悉。

Diànnǎo de jiànwèi yào shúxī.

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

快捷能提高工作效率。

Kuàijié jiàn néng tígāo gōngzuò xiàolǜ.

Shortcut keys can improve work efficiency.

他定制了一个机械盘。

Tā dìngzhìle yīgè jīxiè jiànpán.

He customized a mechanical keyboard.

如果你忘记了密码,重置在这里。

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.