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鈕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鈕niǔbutton, knob; surnamex, 12 strokes, radical 釒, rank #85400, Very Hard
niǔ(niu3) T3
  1. 1button, knob; surname
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鈕niǔ(niu3)

The character 鈕 (niǔ) primarily means 'button' or 'knob,' referring to a small device used to fasten clothing or operate machinery. It is also a surname in Chinese. This character is commonly used in contexts related to clothing, technology, and design.

Strokes12Radical釒Frequency#85400DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese clothing, buttons like 鈕 were often made of cloth or metal and served both functional and decorative purposes. The design of buttons has evolved, reflecting changes in fashion and culture throughout Chinese history.

Memory Tip

Imagine a button (鈕) shaped like a small round knob. The radical '金' (metal) hints at its connection to physical objects, while the '𢀖' component can remind you of the action of pressing a knob. Picture yourself pressing this shiny button to unlock a door, reinforcing both the meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 鈕

niǔ(niu3)
1button, knob; surname
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鈕

鈕Simplified
12Strokes
釒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鈕

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Podcast: 鈕

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AI Study Notes for 鈕

Usage Notes

Watch out for the pronunciation of niǔ, as it can be confused with similar-sounding characters. This character is more commonly used in informal contexts, especially when discussing clothing or appliances. Common collocations include 鈕扣 (button) and 鈕旋 (knob rotation).

HSK Study Tips

Although 鈕 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK Level 3 words that deal with clothing and household items. Students should focus on recognizing similar characters and understanding their practical applications in everyday scenarios.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鈕 with similar characters like 按 (àn) or 键 (jiàn), which have different meanings. For example, saying '按鈕' (ànniǔ) instead of just 鈕 for 'button' may lead to confusion; remember that 鈕 can stand alone.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鈕

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Etymology of 鈕

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

Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 丑 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鈕.

Memory Hint

metal

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鈕

Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 丑 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鈕.

  1. 1The meaning half釒 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half丑 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaymetal
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 鈕? 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 鈕?

Decomposition of 鈕

IDS Structure⿰釒丑
鈕Full Character
=
釒jin1
left
丑Chou3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鈕?

How to say button, knob; surname in Chinese

“button, knob; surname” in Chinese is鈕niǔ

The character 鈕 (niǔ) primarily means 'button' or 'knob,' referring to a small device used to fasten clothing or operate machinery. It is also a surname in Chinese. This character is commonly used in contexts related to clothing, technology, and design.

When to use 鈕

Watch out for the pronunciation of niǔ, as it can be confused with similar-sounding characters. This character is more commonly used in informal contexts, especially when discussing clothing or appliances. Common collocations include 鈕扣 (button) and 鈕旋 (knob rotation).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鈕 with similar characters like 按 (àn) or 键 (jiàn), which have different meanings. For example, saying '按鈕' (ànniǔ) instead of just 鈕 for 'button' may lead to confusion; remember that 鈕 can stand alone.

Write 鈕

鈕

Practice writing 鈕 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 鈕

Words Containing This Character5
按钮push button按鈕
钮niǔsurname Niu鈕
钮扣button鈕釦
旋钮knob (e.g. handle or radio button)旋鈕
电钮push button (electric switch)電鈕
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 按钮 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鈕

鈕 refers specifically to a button or knob, while 按钮 typically refers to a button in a more electronic or mechanical context.

Jason Recommends

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