关键

guānjiàn

Traditional: 關鍵

#1936 of 5,000 Core 5000

Translation

key, crucial, the crux

Word origin

A compound of 关 (guān, a gate, a barrier) and 键 (jiàn, a bolt or key for a lock), the part that controls whether the gate opens, hence the crucial point.

Origin
compound
Root
关 (guān, gate, barrier) + 键 (jiàn, bolt, key)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 关

Stroke order for 键

Examples

Hard work is the key to success.

This is the crux of the problem.

At the crucial moment he did not give up.

Choosing the right method is crucial.

The key lies in whether you are willing to change.

关键 (guān jiàn) means the key or crux, the decisive point on which something turns. It works as a noun and attributively to mean crucial or pivotal.

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This word is part of lesson 39.