纽扣

• Pinyin: niǔ kòu
• Hanzi breakdown: 纽 = 纟 (thread/silk radical) + 丑 (twisted) — a twisted thread/knot; 扣 = 扌 (hand) + 口 (opening) — to fasten an opening with the hand

Meaning

A button (on clothing); a fastener sewn onto fabric.

Refers to the buttons on clothing used for fastening. Also used metaphorically: 人生的第一颗纽扣 (the first button of life) — a famous quote about how getting the first step right matters most. 纽扣电池 (button cell battery). Different from 按钮 (button on a device/machine).

Examples

1. 她低头仔细地为孩子扣好每一颗纽扣，再次检查围巾是否系紧，才放心地目送他走向校门。 She looked down and carefully buttoned every button on her child, checked that the scarf was tied tight, and only then watched him head toward the school gate with peace of mind.
2. 这件定制西装的纽扣采用贝母材料制成，在光线的照射下散发出淡淡的珍珠光泽，尽显品质。 The buttons on this custom suit are made of mother-of-pearl, and in the light they give off a subtle pearly sheen that shows its quality.
3. 习近平曾以纽扣为喻，告诫青年人人生的第一颗纽扣一定要扣好，强调正确人生起点的重要性。 Xi Jinping once used a button as a metaphor, telling young people they must fasten the first button in life correctly, emphasizing how important it is to start out on the right path.

Usage Guide

Context: clothing, everyday life, metaphor

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 西装的纽扣扣法有一定的礼仪规范，例如单排扣西装通常只扣最上面一颗或不扣最下面一颗，穿着者应当了解这些细节。(There are certain etiquette conventions for fastening suit buttons — for example, a single-breasted suit jacket typically has only the top button fastened or leaves the bottom button undone; wearers should be aware of these details.)
• 那件外婆亲手缝制的旧棉袄已经褪色破损，但上面每一颗纽扣都依然完好，那是外婆精心挑选并一针一线缝上去的，承载着无尽的温情与思念。(That old cotton jacket hand-sewn by grandmother has faded and worn, but every button on it remains intact — each one carefully chosen and sewn on stitch by stitch, carrying boundless warmth and longing.)

Don't Say

• 将'纽扣'与'按钮'混用 — 纽扣 refers to buttons on clothing; 按钮 refers to buttons on machines, devices, or interfaces; they are not interchangeable

Origin & History

纽 (knot/tie) + 扣 (to fasten/hook) — a knotted fastener that hooks clothing shut

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal