键

• Pinyin: jiàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 键 = 钅(metal) + 建 (establish), originally meaning a metal bolt or key

Meaning

Key (on keyboard/piano); bond (chemistry). A button or chemical connection.

Most commonly refers to keys on keyboards, pianos, or other devices. In chemistry, refers to atomic bonds. Appears in compounds like 键盘 (keyboard) and 按键 (button/key).

Examples

1. 按下回车键就可以提交表单了。 Press the Enter key to submit the form.
2. 钢琴有八十八个黑白键，需要大量练习才能弹好。 A piano has 88 black and white keys; it takes a lot of practice to play well.
3. 化学老师讲解了碳原子之间形成共价键的原理。 The chemistry teacher explained the principle of covalent bonds forming between carbon atoms.

Usage Guide

Context: technology, music, chemistry

Tone: technical

Do Say

• 按哪个键？(Which key should I press?)
• 空格键在最下面。(The space bar is at the bottom.)

Don't Say

• 门的键坏了 (For door keys, use 钥匙 — 键 is for buttons/keys on devices)

Origin & History

Originally referred to a bolt or bar for locking, extended to mean keys on instruments and keyboards.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal