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按键 (àn jiàn) — to press a key (on a keyboard, keypad, or button panel)

Definition

按键 (àn jiàn) is a verb meaning 'to press a key/button,' focusing on the physical action of pressing. More general than just keyboards — works for phone buttons, keypads, and panels.

verb
to press a key (on a keyboard, keypad, or button panel)

Examples

  • 按键。
    Qǐng zài jiàn pán shàng àn jiàn.
    Please press a key on the keyboard.
  • 。
    Wǒ àn le yí cì jiàn cái néng jì xù.
    I pressed a key once to continue.
  • 按键。
    Shū rù mì mǎ hòu àn jiàn.
    After entering the password, press a key.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

按ànpress
键jiànkey

按 (press) and 键 (key) combine to mean press a 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
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
安
安ān按àn
Same sound today

按 has 扌, the hand radical, and 安. The hand part points to an action done with the hand, while 安 supplies the sound and the idea of being at ease, linked to pressing down.

Open 按 →

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 →
Appears in
Computers & Internet

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