How to Write 揿 (qìn) — Meaning “to press (with a finger)”

Imagine your hand (扌) pressing a thumbtack (揿钉) into a wall. The right side 钦 sounds like "chin," so picture pressing your chin with your finger. This combines hand action and sound to recall the character.

The right side 钦 starts with 金 (metal), so make sure to include the dot on top and the two horizontal strokes inside. A common mistake is confusing 金 with 全. Also, the stroke order for 钦: first the left-falling stroke of 金, then the right-falling, then the two horizontals, etc.

While 挨 means "to lean on" or "to suffer" and 挫 means "to frustrate" or "to twist," 揿 specifically means "to press with a finger." Visually, 挨 uses the phonetic 矣 (yǐ) and 挫 uses 坐 (zuò), so the right sides are distinct. Only 揿 relates to pressing buttons or thumbtacks.

揿 is used in formal or technical contexts for pressing buttons, such as 揿门铃 (ring the doorbell) and 揿按钮 (press a button). It is less common in casual speech, where 按 (àn) is often used instead. You might see 揿 on signs or instruction manuals for machines or doorbells.

Common words containing 揿 include: 揿门铃 (qìn mén líng) — to ring the doorbell; 揿按钮 (qìn àn niǔ) — to press a button; 揿钉 (qìn dīng) — thumbtack; pushpin.