key
On'yomi (音読み)
- ケン
Kun'yomi (訓読み)
- かぎ
About this kanji
The kanji 「鍵」 means "key" and is used as a noun. It can refer to both physical keys and concepts of unlocking or access. Some common compounds include 鍵盤 (けんばん), which means "keyboard," such as on a piano; 鍵穴 (かぎあな), meaning "keyhole"; and 合鍵 (あいかぎ), which means "duplicate key". This kanji is often associated with security and access. A practical usage note is that when you want to specify types of keys or mechanisms involving keys, this kanji is essential, especially in everyday conversations about locks, music, or technology.
Example sentences
鍵を無くしてしまった。
I lost my key.
Meanings across languages
- English
- key
- Tiếng Việt
- chìa khóa
- 日本語
- 鍵
- 한국어
- 열쇠
- 中文
- 钥匙
- id
- kunci
- th
- กุญแจ
- es
- clave
- fr
- clé
- de
- Schlüssel
- pt
- chave
Common compounds
- 鍵盤keyboard (of a piano, typewriter, etc.)
- 鍵穴keyhole
- 黒鍵black key (on a piano, organ, etc.)
- 打鍵keystroke
- 合鍵duplicate key, master key, passkey
- 鍵束bunch of keys
- 関鍵locking doors, lock and key, vital point
- 秘鍵hidden mysteries, secret principle
Words using this kanji
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