快捷键 (kuài jié jiàn) — shortcut key, hotkey

Definition

noun
shortcut keyhotkey

Examples

  • 快捷键。
    Nǐ kě yǐ shè zhì kuài jié jiàn lái bǎo cún wén jiàn.
    You can set a shortcut key to save the file.
  • 快捷键。
    Àn kuài jié jiàn kě yǐ kuài sù qiē huàn chuāng kǒu.
    Press the shortcut key to quickly switch windows.
  • 快捷键。
    Xué xí kuài jié jiàn néng tí gāo gōng zuò xiào lǜ.
    Learning shortcut keys can improve work efficiency.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

快捷quick and convenient
快kuàiquick捷jiéagile; quick
联合Side by side
键jiànkey

快捷 means quick and convenient, and 键 is a key, giving a shortcut key.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
夬
夬guài快kuài
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

快 pairs the left part 忄 (full form 心, the heart) with the right part 夬, which gives the sound.

Open 快 →

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
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
疌
疌jié捷jié
Same sound today

捷 pairs 手 (hand) with 疌, which gives its sound.

Open 捷 →

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 →

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