关键字 (guān jiàn zì) — keyword (in computing or search); key term, key word (central concept)

Definition

A keyword or key term — a single word that captures the central concept of a text or that you type into a search. As a computing term it can also mean a reserved word in programming.

noun
keyword (in computing or search)key termkey word (central concept)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 关键字。
    Qǐng zài sōu suǒ kuàng lǐ shū rù guān jiàn zì.
    Please enter the keyword in the search box.
  • 关键字“”。
    Zhè piān wén zhāng de guān jiàn zì shì "kě chí xù fā zhǎn".
    The keyword of this article is 'sustainable development'.
  • 关键字。
    Chéng xù yuán xū yào bì miǎn shǐ yòng bǎo liú guān jiàn zì.
    Programmers need to avoid using reserved keywords.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 關; 关 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
門門méndoor
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢇅
𢇅𢇅關guān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 关, the traditional form 關 shows 門 as a door and 𢇅 as two wooden sticks locking it, with ring-like marks on top.

Open 关 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鍵; 键 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
釒Written in full as金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
建
建jiàn鍵jiàn
Same sound today

The traditional form 鍵 combines 釒 (metal) with 建 for sound, and the evidence describes it as a metal key.

Open 键 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ字zì
Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Open 字 →

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