鍵かぎ

か

ぎ

Common wordJLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

noun

key

Physical key for a lock. Also used metaphorically for something that provides access or a solution.

家いえの鍵かぎを忘わすれてしまった。
I forgot my house key.

この箱はこの鍵かぎはどこですか。

Where is the key to this box?

2

noun

lock

Refers to the locking mechanism itself, often used in contexts like 鍵をかける (to lock).

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉の鍵かぎを開あけるto unlock (a door, room, etc.) with a key
彼かれは部屋へやの鍵かぎを開あけて中なかに入はいった。
He unlocked the room and went inside.
鍵かぎをなくすto lose one's key
家いえの鍵かぎをなくしてしまった。
I ended up losing the key to my house.
〈人ひと〉に鍵かぎを渡わたすto hand someone a/the key
管かん理り人にんに部屋へやの鍵かぎを渡わたした。
I handed the room key to the building manager.
〈事こと〉の鍵かぎとなるto be the key (crucial factor) to something
この技ぎ術じゅつが交こう渉しょう成せい功こうの鍵かぎとなる。
This technology will be the key to the negotiation's success.

Expressions

鍵かぎがかかるbecome locked; lock
鍵かぎをかけるlock; lock up
成せい功こうの鍵かぎkey to success; key success factor
鍵かぎを握にぎるhold the key (to)
勝しょう敗はいの鍵かぎを握にぎるhold the key to victory or defeat; have the outcome in one's hands
鍵かぎの穴あなから天てんを覗のぞくhave a narrow view of things; peep at the sky through a keyhole (lit.)

Kanji

鍵key
鑰lock

Related words

手て掛がかりN1sense 3
鍵 figuratively means the crucial key to solving something, while 手がかり is a more general clue or lead that may only partially help.
ロック
鍵 is the native Japanese word for a key or lock and covers traditional physical locks, while ロック is a loanword more common for mechanical or digital locking actions.
キー
鍵 is the native Japanese word for a physical key and can also be used figuratively, while キー is a loanword that feels more modern or technical, especially for machines and keyboards.

Don't confuse with

錠じょう sense 2
鍵 can mean both 'key' and 'lock', while 錠 refers specifically to a lock or padlock mechanism.

Counted with

本ほんN5
Keys can be counted as long, thin objects with 本 (hon), though this is not the usual classifier for 鍵 (kagi).

Word family· 23

合あい鍵かぎ
duplicate key; copy of a key · master key; passkey; skeleton key
鍵かぎ屋や
locksmith; key shop
鍵かぎ穴あな
keyhole
内うち鍵かぎ
internal lock; inside key

Written forms

鍵かぎUsage79%
Standard kanji spelling for all senses.
カギUsage16%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling used for emphasis or in informal writing.
かぎUsage5%
鑰かぎUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form

Etymology

Originally referred to a wooden peg or bolt used to fasten a door. The kanji 鍵 combines 金 (metal) and 建 (build), reflecting its function in securing structures.

鍵かぎ型がた

key-shaped

Show 8 more

鍵かぎアカ
private account; locked account
鍵かぎ層そう
key bed; marker bed
鍵かぎ束たば
bunch of keys
鍵かぎ輪わ
key ring
公こう開かい鍵かぎ
public key
共きょう有ゆう鍵かぎ
shared key
暗あん号ごう鍵かぎ
cryptographic key; encryption key
秘ひ密みつ鍵かぎ
private key; secret key

See all 23 in Explore →

Rarely used kanji form; learners should use 鍵.