Dictionary › 键

键

jiàn

HSK 4 Character Traditional 鍵

What 键 means

1. key (on a piano or computer keyboard)
2. button (on a mouse or other device)
3. chemical bond
4. linchpin

Example sentences

• 按任何键。
  Press any key.
• 这是一个关键点。
  This is a crucial point.
• 鲑鱼是关键物种。
  Salmon are a keystone species.
• 这正是问题的关键。
  Zhè zhèngshì wèntí de guānjiàn.
  That's the point.
• 元旦是一年的关键。
  Yuándàn shì yī nián de guānjiàn.
  New Year's Day is the key to the year.
• 我的猫喜欢我的键盘。
  Wǒ de māo xǐhuan wǒ de jiànpán.
  My cat likes my keyboard.

Words starting with 键

• 键盘jiàn pánkeyboard
• 键入jiàn rùto key in; to input; to enter (some text)
• 键政jiàn zhèng(slang) to discuss politics online
• 键程jiàn chéngkey travel (of a keyboard)
• 键词jiàn cíkeyword
• 键盘乐器jiàn pán yuè qìkeyboard instrument (piano, organ etc)
• 键鼠jiàn shǔkeyboard and mouse (abbr. for 键盘
• 键帽jiàn màokeycap
• 键槽jiàn cáo(engineering) keyway; key slot
• 键盘侠jiàn pán xiákeyboard warrior

Words containing 键

• 关键guān jiàncrucial point; crux; key
• 关键词guān jiàn cíkeyword
• 关键字guān jiàn zìkeyword
• 按键àn jiànbutton or key (on a device); keystroke; to press a button
• 琴键qín jiàna piano key
• 价键jià jiànvalence bond (chemistry)
• 单键dān jiànsingle bond (chemistry)
• 热键rè jiànhotkey; keyboard shortcut
• 色键sè jiànchroma key; bluescreen; greenscreen (video editing)
• 双键shuāng jiàndouble bond (chemistry)
• 电键diàn jiànelectric key; switch
• 共价键gòng jià jiàncovalent bond (chemistry)
• 化学键huà xué jiànchemical bond
• 回车键huí chē jiàn(computing) enter key; return key (on a keyboard)
• 按键音àn jiàn yīnkeypad tone; key tone
• 空格键kòng gé jiànspace bar (keyboard)
• 金属键jīn shǔ jiànmetallic bond
• 离子键lí zǐ jiànionic bond (chemistry)
• 退格键tuì gé jiànbackspace (keyboard)
• 快捷键kuài jié jiàn(computer) shortcut key; hotkey
• 暂停键zàn tíng jiànpause button
• 上档键shàng dàng jiàn(computing) Shift key
• 换档键huàn dàng jiàn(computing) Shift key
• 关键绩效指标guān jiàn jì xiào zhǐ biāokey performance indicator (KPI)

Characters built on 建

These share the phonetic component 建 (jiàn), which is why their readings rhyme. Learning them as a family is far cheaper than learning them one at a time.

• 健jiànhealthy; to invigorate; to strengthen
• 腱jiàntendon; sinew
• 犍jiānbullock; castrated bull; to castrate livestock
• 毽jiànshuttlecock
• 踺jiànused in 踺子

Characters that look like 键

Easy to confuse on sight. Compare them side by side once and the pair stops costing you.

• 锻duànto forge; to discipline; wrought
• 辍chuòto stop (before completion); to cease; to suspend
• 锂lǐlithium (chemistry)
• 锚máoanchor
• 馊sōurancid; soured (as food)
• 锗zhěgermanium (chemistry)

Sounds the same

Read jiàn, tone for tone, but written differently.

• 见to see; to meet; to appear (to be sth)
• 件item; component; classifier for events, things, clothes etc
• 健healthy; to invigorate; to strengthen
• 建to establish; to found; to set up
• 渐gradual; gradually
• 践to fulfill (a promise); to tread; to walk
• 荐to recommend; to offer sacrifice (arch.); grass
• 剑double-edged sword; classifier for blows of a sword
• 鉴bronze mirror (used in ancient times); to reflect; to mirror
• 舰warship
• 箭arrow
• 溅to splash