纽扣 (niǔ kòu) — button | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A physical button sewn onto clothing — the everyday word for shirt/coat buttons. 按钮 is a press-able button on a device; 键 is a key (keyboard, piano).

noun

button

Measure word · 颗

Examples

纽扣。
Zhè jiàn dà yī de niǔ kòu shì mù zhì de.
The buttons on this coat are made of wood.
纽扣，。
Tā yī fu shàng de niǔ kòu kuài diào xià lái le, dé gǎn jǐn féng shàng.
The button on his shirt is about to fall off; he needs to sew it on quickly.
纽扣。
Zhè kē niǔ kòu shì cóng nǎi nai de jiù hé zi lǐ zhǎo dào de.
This button was found in Grandma's old box.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

纽niǔbutton

扣kòubutton

纽 and 扣 both point to a fastening button, giving a small button.

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 紐; 纽 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mìsilk

Sound part声符shēngfú

丑

丑chǒu紐niǔ

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 紐 has 糸 (silk) for tying and 丑 for sound; 丑 also points to a claw or hand, fitting a handle. The simplified 纽 is a later shorthand.

Open 纽 →

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shǒu

Sound part声符shēngfú

口

口kǒu扣kòu

Same sound today

扣 puts 手 (hand) beside 口 (mouth); 口 gives the sound, while 手 shows it is about a hand action.

Open 扣 →

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Clothing