Meaning of 关键
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- crucial point
- crux
- key
- crucial
- pivotal
Measure word: 個|个
How to use 关键
关键 works as a noun meaning the key point and also as an adjective before nouns, like 关键问题 (guānjiàn wèntí, key issue). It often appears in the pattern 关键是... to stress what matters most. Example: 关键是要坚持。(Guānjiàn shì yào jiānchí.) The key is to keep at it.
关 (guān) means a gate or pass, and 键 (jiàn) means a key or bolt, with the metal radical 钅 for metal. The metal bolt that locks the gate is the one part everything depends on, so 关键 is the crux.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes use 钥匙 (yàoshi) and 关键 interchangeably, but 钥匙 is only a physical key for a lock, while 关键 is only the figurative key. Also keep the tones straight: first tone guān, fourth tone jiàn.
关键 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
关 guān · mountain pass · 6 strokes
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- 2
- 3
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键 jiàn · key · 13 strokes
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- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
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- 9
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- 13
Related words
Words that share a character with 关键.
| 没关系 | méi guānxi | it doesn't matter |
| 关上 | guānshang | to close (a door); to turn off (light, electrical equipment etc) |
| 关心 | guānxīn | to be concerned about; to care about |
| 关机 | guānjī | to turn off (a machine or device); to finish shooting a film |
| 关系 | guānxì | relation; relationship; connection; to concern; to involve; to affect |
| 关注 | guānzhù | to pay attention to; to follow sth closely; to follow (on social media); concern; interest |
| 相关 | xiāngguān | related; relevant |
| 海关 | hǎiguān | customs (i.e. border crossing inspection) |
| 关于 | guānyú | pertaining to; concerning |
| 关闭 | guānbì | to close; to shut (a window etc); (of a shop, school etc) to shut down |
| 键盘 | jiànpán | keyboard |
| 关怀 | guānhuái | care; solicitude |
Questions about 关键
What does 关键 mean?
关键 (guānjiàn) means "crucial point; crux" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 关键?
关键 is made of 2 characters: 关 (6 strokes), 键 (13 strokes). That is 19 strokes in total.
Is 关键 an HSK word?
Yes. 关键 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 关键 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 关键 is written 關鍵.
How do I say 'at the critical moment' with 关键?
Say 关键时刻 (guānjiàn shíkè). For example, 他在关键时刻帮了我。(Tā zài guānjiàn shíkè bāng le wǒ.) He helped me at the critical moment.
What is the difference between 关键 and 重要 (zhòngyào)?
重要 just means important and can describe many things at once. 关键 is stronger and points to the single deciding factor that everything else depends on.