HanziGuru.扣 · kòu
扣
kòu[kou4]Tone 4

button

HSK 6
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釦
Multiple Readings (多音字):
Guru Deep Dive

English · button

Cached lesson
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Topology:Left-right
Strokes:6
Writing Balance Rule: The left radical (扌) should be narrower and slightly elevated, leaving enough space for the right component (口) to maintain an even, balanced width.
Simplification Logic: The simplified form replaces the traditional right-side component (金 - metal) with 口 (mouth), reflecting a phonetic simplification and shift in common usage away from purely metal buttons.
1. Meaning

button

to buckleto fastento deductto knockto smash
Verb / NounNeutral#clothing#actions#fastening
Sample Usage
  • 把衣服的扣子扣上。
    bǎ yīfu de kòuzi kòushang.
    Button up your clothes.
  • 这家商店扣了我的一部分押金。
    zhè jiā shāngdiàn kòule wǒ de yībùfèn yājīn.
    This store deducted a portion of my deposit.
2. Sound
/[kʰoʊ̯⁵¹]/Tone: 51
扣
kòukou4
++
`(51)
=kòu
Initial Consonant
k
Type: Aspirated Velar
Sounds like: k sound as in kite
Aspirated
Airflow Tactile Test: Strong gust of air from throat! Tissue held in front MUST fly forward.
Tongue & Mouth Position: Back of the tongue raised against the soft palate, releasing a strong burst of air
Final Rhyme
ou
Vowel Group: -o vowel group
Sounds like: ou rhymes with owe or oh
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'oh'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T4 (51)
4th Tone (High-Falling)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 4 starts high and drops sharply to the bottom, like a stern command or a sharp 'No!'
👂
Listening trap: Confusing the sharp falling Tone 4 with Tone 3 (dipping) when spoken quickly in conversational compound words like kòuzi.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: A sharp, forceful downward chop of the hand, matching the abrupt dropping pitch from high to low (Tone 4).
3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 6 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The left radical (扌) should be narrower and slightly elevated, leaving enough space for the right component (口) to maintain an even, balanced width.

Simplification Logic: The simplified form replaces the traditional right-side component (金 - metal) with 口 (mouth), reflecting a phonetic simplification and shift in common usage away from purely metal buttons.

4. Components

Radical 扌 · Hand radical (Hand actions, touching, or manipulation)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 扌 (Indicates an action performed with the hand (fastening, buttoning, or knocking))

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 口 (original sound: kou)

A hand (扌) reaches out to interact with or fasten something shaped like an opening or mouth (口), representing the action of fastening a button or buckling.

  • 扌 Hand action
  • 口 Mouth or opening / phonetic clue
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Combined from the hand radical (扌) indicating physical action and a phonetic component (originally representing striking or covering), later generalized to mean fastening, buttoning, or deducting.

Semantic Evolution: Originally referred to covering or inverting; later extended to fastening clothes (buttons), strapping, and metaphorically to deducting money or withholding.

  • The traditional variant 釦 explicitly features the metal (金) radical, showing that early buttons or clasps were frequently metallic ornaments.
6. Sinosphere
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story

Your hand (扌) reaches for your shirt collar to fasten a round button that looks like an open mouth (口), making a sharp click as you snap it shut.

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
扣
kòubutton, deductStandard character with hand radical
蔲
kòuamomum seedReplaces hand radical with grass radical (艹)
Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)
扛(káng)
扛 uses the work/river phonetic part (工) on the right and means to carry on shoulders, whereas 扣 uses 口 and means to button or deduct.
8. Mastery
Active Recall Challenge
请把大衣的[___]扣好，外面风很大。
Clue: kòu zi
Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the hand radical (扌) with the water radical (氵) or mistaking the right component for a similar box-like radical.

Memory Prompts
Recognition: When you see 扣 with a hand and a mouth component, what primary action or clothing item does it evoke?
Production: How do you write the character for 'button' or 'to deduct' pronounced kòu with 6 strokes?
Real-World Video Context

Watch authentic native speakers pronounce and explain this word in real-world YouTube videos.

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