鍵 means “key”

かぎ · kagi

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

かぎ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ケン

Taught in secondary school · 25 strokes

The story

Metal (金) that builds (建) access: a 鍵 opens what is hidden. In old Kyoto, massive iron keys guarded castle gates and temple treasures. Today, Japan's crime rate is so low that many still leave doors unlocked.

Used in 鍵盤 (kenban, keyboard) and 合鍵 (aikagi, duplicate key)

More from Tools & Objects

• 箱 box
• 車 car
• 船 ship
• 本 book
• 糸 thread
• 布 cloth
• 針 needle
• 傘 umbrella
• 袋 bag
• 机 desk
• 鐘 bell
• 刃 blade

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.