鑰匙扣 / 钥匙扣
yàoshikòu
The English word keychain translates to Chinese as 鑰匙扣 / 钥匙扣 (yàoshikòu) or 鑰匙鏈 / 钥匙链.
Meaning: chain or ring (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 鑰匙扣 / 钥匙扣 | yàoshikòu |
| 鑰匙鏈 / 钥匙链 | yàoshiliàn |
In Chinese, the term you choose depends on whether you are referring to a small ring or a chain-style holder. If you are talking about a lanyard for your keys, you would use 钥匙挂绳.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 鑰匙扣 / 钥匙扣 (yàoshikòu) literally means 'key buckle' or 'key hook', focusing on the mechanism that holds the keys. The term 鑰匙鏈 / 钥匙链 (yàoshiliàn) literally means 'key chain', referring to a holder with a chain-like structure.
Which one should you use?
鑰匙扣 / 钥匙扣 is more commonly used for small, single-ring key holders or clips. In contrast, 鑰匙鏈 / 钥匙链 specifically implies a holder that features a chain.
How do you pronounce it?
yàoshikòu
Did you know?
- The character 扣 / 扣 found in 钥匙扣 describes any action of fastening, meaning it is used for both the physical button on a shirt and the act of deducting money from an account.
- In modern Chinese youth culture, 钥匙扣 / 钥匙扣 are often collected as 'blind box' toys, making the term almost synonymous with collectible miniatures rather than just utility items.
- While it describes a physical object, the character 钥 (yuè) can also metaphorically refer to the 'key' or the most essential part of a secret or a complex argument.
Examples in context
- 我喜欢这个钥匙链。I like this keychain.
- 我的钥匙扣丢了。I lost my keychain.
- 把钥匙放在钥匙圈上。Put the keys on the keychain.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “keychain” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
