jiàn

key, bolt

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Components
钅 meaning component

  Meaning component

jīn

  

metal

is a component form of .

建 sound component

  Sound component

jiàn

  

build

Evolution

键 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
键 Clerical script Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical script

Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
键 Traditional script Modern

Traditional script

Modern
键 Simplified script Modern

Simplified script

Modern
Definitions

() 

jiàn

door bolt, lock bolt; key; key (on a piano or computer keyboard); button (on a mouse or other device); chemical bond; linchpin

Most common words with 键
Freq.
Word
Meaning

关键

crux

linchpin

键盘

keyboard

关键词

keyword

按键

keystroke