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摁 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
摁ènto press with a fingerv, 13 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15815, Very Hard
摁ènto press (with finger)unknown, 13 strokes, radical 扌, rank #15815, Very Hard
èn(en4) T4
  1. 1to press with a finger
  2. 2to press (with finger)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

摁èn(en4)

The character 摁 (èn) means to press down with a finger, typically used in contexts that involve operating devices or applying pressure to objects. It conveys a sense of using one's finger to activate or manipulate something, such as buttons or touchscreens.

Strokes13Radical扌Frequency#15815DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In modern Chinese, the act of pressing buttons is prevalent with the rise of technology, and 摁 is commonly used in the context of smartphones and electronic devices. This reflects the importance of technology in daily life in China.

Memory Tip

Imagine your finger 'en' (like the sound of 'en' in 'pen') pressing down hard on a button, making it 'en'gage with the device. The character's components can be visualized as a hand (扌) pushing down on something, emphasizing the action of pressing.

Meanings of 摁

èn(en4)
1to press with a finger
2to press (with finger)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 摁

摁Simplified
13Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 摁

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Podcast: 摁

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AI Study Notes for 摁

Quick Contrast

按 (àn) — use '摁' when emphasizing a pressing action with a finger, while '按' is more general for pressing or pushing.

Usage Notes

This verb is generally informal and used in everyday contexts. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar verbs like 按 (àn), which also means to press but has a broader usage. Remember to use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Though 摁 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it relates to other action verbs in Chinese. Students should focus on recognizing the differences between similar pressing verbs like 按 (àn) and 学 (xué) to enhance their understanding of nuances.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 摁 with 按, using them interchangeably, which is incorrect in certain contexts. For instance, saying '我按这个按钮' (I press this button) is correct, but using 摁 here would sound awkward.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 摁

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Etymology of 摁

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 恩 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

hand

Semantic (meaning)扌
+
Phonetic (sound)恩
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 摁

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 恩 represents the sound.

  1. 1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half恩 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayhand
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 摁? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 摁?

Decomposition of 摁

IDS Structure⿰扌恩
摁Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
恩en1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 摁?

How to say to press with a finger in Chinese

“to press with a finger” in Chinese is摁èn

The character 摁 (èn) means to press down with a finger, typically used in contexts that involve operating devices or applying pressure to objects. It conveys a sense of using one's finger to activate or manipulate something, such as buttons or touchscreens.

When to use 摁

This verb is generally informal and used in everyday contexts. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar verbs like 按 (àn), which also means to press but has a broader usage. Remember to use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.

摁 or something close to it

按 (àn) — use '摁' when emphasizing a pressing action with a finger, while '按' is more general for pressing or pushing.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 摁 with 按, using them interchangeably, which is incorrect in certain contexts. For instance, saying '我按这个按钮' (I press this button) is correct, but using 摁 here would sound awkward.

Write 摁

摁

Practice writing 摁 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 摁

Words Containing This Character1
摁ènto press (with finger)
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 摁 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 摁

摁 specifically refers to pressing with a finger, while 按 can refer to pressing or pushing more generally.

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