Jiù xiàng nǐmen zhīdao de nàyàng, yìlì shì chénggōng de guānjiàn.
As you know, perseverance is the key to success.
Sentence #334734 from Tatoeba · translation adapted
How 关键 is built
Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.
关guānmountain pass
丷eight form of 八 · bā
天sky · tiān
Memory aidSimplified from 關, a bar fastened across a gate 門: to close, to shut.
键jiànkey
钅gold form of 金 · jīnMeaning part
建to build · jiànSound part
钅 hints at the meaning (gold); 建 (jiàn) hints at the sound. Compare it with jiàn.
How to write 关键
关 6 strokes · 键 13 strokes
Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.
Stroke order chart for 关键 (guānjiàn). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.
关键 (guānjiàn) means “crucial point” or “crux”. It is an HSK 4 word.
Say it guānjiàn: guān with a 1st tone, then jiàn with a 4th tone. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
In Traditional characters, used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, 关键 is written 關鍵. The pronunciation is the same.
Use 个 (gè). For example, one crucial point is 一个关键 (yí ge guānjiàn).
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type guanjian with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 关键 from the suggestions. Typing guanjian into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
关键 is an HSK 4 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.
Turn words into conversations
A dictionary gives you the words. A native teacher shows you how to use them. Start with a free 30-minute intro call.
Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.
关guān1st tone, high and level
键jiàn4th tone, falling
