How to Write 键 (jiàn) — Meaning “key (on a keyboard or piano); chemical bond”

Q: What is a creative mnemonic to remember the character 键?

Imagine a shiny metal (钅) keyboard where each key helps you 'build' (建) a sentence. So 键 = metal + build, like building your message with metal keys.

Q: What are the key writing tips for 键?

Keep the left radical 钅 narrow and the right side 建 wider for balance. A common mistake is writing the long right-falling stroke of the 廴 component too short; it should extend diagonally below the left side.

Q: How is 键 different from similar characters like 铐 and 铑?

铐 (kào) means 'handcuffs' and uses 考 (kǎo) on the right, while 铑 (lǎo) means 'rhodium' and uses 老 (lǎo). 键 uses 建 (jiàn) on the right and means 'key' or 'crucial'. The right side component visually distinguishes them.

Q: When and how is 键 used in modern Chinese?

键 is common in technology for physical keys, like 键盘 (keyboard) and 按键 (button). It also appears in the important word 关键 (guān jiàn), meaning 'key' or 'crucial', which is widely used in both daily speech and formal writing.

Q: What common words use 键?

Common words containing 键 include: 键盘 (jiàn pán) — keyboard; 按键 (àn jiàn) — key (on a keyboard or phone); 关键 (guān jiàn) — Key; crucial.

jiàn HSK Level 5 13 strokes Radical: 钅

键 (jiàn) means "key (on a keyboard or piano); chemical bond" in Chinese. It has 13 strokes with the radical 钅, and is HSK Level 5.

Rated 4.2/5 in difficulty (advanced).

Harder than 98% of HSK Level 5 characters.

Appears in 3+ common words including 键盘 (jiàn pán), 按键 (àn jiàn), 关键 (guān jiàn).

Due to its 13 strokes, Hanzi Writer's error detection shows 键 requires focused practice — most learners need 10+ attempts for consistent accuracy.

Practice Writing 键 (jiàn)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 键 with real-time feedback.

App Store ▶ Google Play

How to Write 键

The character 键 (jiàn) is written with 13 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 钅 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

What Does jiàn (键) Mean in Chinese?

键 means key (on a keyboard or piano); chemical bond.

As an HSK Level 5 character, 键 is an intermediate-level character.

Character Data

Character	键
Pinyin	jiàn (jian)
Meaning	key (on a keyboard or piano); chemical bond
Strokes	13
Radical	钅
HSK Level	5
Difficulty	4.2/5

Origin of 键

键 is a phono-semantic compound: the radical 钅 (metal) hints at its original meaning of a metal lock or key, while 建 (jiàn, meaning 'build' or 'establish') contributes the pronunciation. Over time, the meaning expanded to any key (like on a keyboard) or a chemical bond, which metaphorically 'locks' atoms together.

💡 Memory Tip: Imagine a metal key (钅) used to build (建) a connection—like pressing a keyboard key to type or a chemical bond linking atoms.

Common Words with 键

键盘 jiàn pán

keyboard

按键 àn jiàn

key (on a keyboard or phone)

关键 guān jiàn

Key; crucial

Example Sentences

电脑键盘很脏。

diàn nǎo jiàn pán hěn zāng

The computer keyboard is very dirty.

请按这个按键。

qǐng àn zhè ge àn jiàn

Please press this key.

这是问题的关键。

zhè shì wèn tí de guān jiàn

This is the key to the problem.

Similar Characters Comparison

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Radical
键 (current)	jiàn	13	钅
铐	kào	11	钅
铑	lǎo	11	钅
铒	ěr	11	钅

Practice Writing 键 (jiàn)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 键 with real-time feedback.

✨ Animated stroke order · Handwriting recognition · HSK-graded practice · Free to use

App Store ▶ Google Play

Frequently Asked Questions about 键

What are the components of 键 and how do they relate to its meaning?

The left component 钅 is the metal radical, indicating that keys were originally made of metal. The right component 建 (jiàn) provides the pronunciation and also means 'to build', which can remind us that pressing keys helps us build words or sentences on a keyboard.

What is a creative mnemonic to remember the character 键?

What are the key writing tips for 键?

How is 键 different from similar characters like 铐 and 铑?

When and how is 键 used in modern Chinese?

What common words use 键?

How to Write 键 (jiàn) — Meaning “key (on a keyboard or piano); chemical bond”

Practice Writing 键 (jiàn)

How to Write 键

What Does jiàn (键) Mean in Chinese?

Character Data

Origin of 键

Common Words with 键

Example Sentences

Similar Characters Comparison

Practice Writing 键 (jiàn)

Frequently Asked Questions about 键

More HSK Level 5 Characters

Characters with Radical 钅

Other 13-Stroke Characters