鍵

ONけん

KUNかぎ

Meanings

keylockkeyboard key

How to remember

The left side (金) clearly indicates 'metal'. The right side of the character resembles a key (shaped like a Y) being inserted into a keyhole or a complex lock mechanism. Imagine the key (Y-shape) fitting into the lock's inner workings.

Vocabulary

鍵かぎ

key, lock

鍵をかけるかぎをかける

to lock (a door)

鍵盤けんばん

keyboard (piano, computer)

合鍵あいかぎ

spare key, duplicate key

鍵穴かぎあな

keyhole

Related kanji

金錠扉閉開門