钮 (niǔ) — button; knob; handle (bound form in compound words)
Definition
A bound form meaning 'button / knob / handle', used only inside compounds like 按钮 (press a button), 旋钮 (knob), and 钮扣 (clothing button).
bound form
buttonknobhandle (bound form in compound words)
Examples
- 。Qǐng àn niǔ.Please press the button.
- 。Zhè ge xuán niǔ yǒu diǎn sōng.This knob is a bit loose.
- 。Yī fu shàng de niǔ kòu diào le.The button (on clothing) fell off.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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 鈕; 钮 is its simplified writing.
The traditional form 鈕 pairs 金 (metal) with 丑, which gives the sound; the simplified 钮 is a later shorthand.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.