鍵: the kanji for key
鍵 is a Jōyō kanji that means key. Below are its readings, 3 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
鍵 is written in 17 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
鍵 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 3 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ケン (ken)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 鍵盤けんばん · kenban | keyboard (of a piano) |
かぎ (kagi)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 鍵かぎ · kagi | key; lock |
| 合鍵あいかぎ · aikagi | spare key |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 家の鍵をなくしました。Ie no kagi o nakushimashita.I lost my house key.
- 出かけるときは鍵をかけてください。Dekakeru toki wa kagi o kakete kudasai.Please lock the door when you go out.
- 合鍵を作りたいです。Aikagi o tsukuritai desu.I'd like to have a spare key made.
- 成功の鍵はチームワークです。Seikō no kagi wa chīmuwāku desu.The key to success is teamwork.
- ピアノの鍵盤は八十八あります。Piano no kenban wa hachijūhachi arimasu.A piano has 88 keys.
Questions about 鍵
How many strokes does 鍵 have?
鍵 is written in 17 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 鍵?
The on readings are ken (ケン). The kun readings are kagi (かぎ).
What JLPT level is 鍵?
鍵 is a Jōyō kanji, but it is not in the N5–N1 kanji lists on this site. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so other study materials may place 鍵 at a JLPT level.
About the JLPT level
鍵 is one of the 2,136 kanji in the official Jōyō Kanji Table, but it is not in the N5–N1 kanji lists on this site. The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. Our lists are a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009 and on the levels that several learning sites agree on, so other study materials may place 鍵 at a JLPT level. See the list of Jōyō kanji outside our JLPT lists.
More Jōyō kanji
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 鍵
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.