# 鍵 — key

鍵 means “key”. It is a JLPT N2 kanji written with 17 strokes. On'yomi: ケン (ken). Kun'yomi: かぎ (kagi). You'll see it in words such as 鍵 (kagi, “key”).

- Meaning: key
- On'yomi: ケン (ken)
- Kun'yomi: かぎ (kagi)
- Strokes: 17
- Level: JLPT N2 · set Things 2

## How to remember 鍵

Sounds like 建: both read ケン.

Parts: 金 metal; gold · 建 build

## Words with 鍵

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 鍵 | かぎ (kagi) | key |

## More in the “Things 2” set

[筒](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/tube/) · [畳](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/tatami-mat/) · [机](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/desk/) · [符](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/symbol/) · [鍵](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/key/) · [枕](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/pillow/) · [椅](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/chair/) · [蓋](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/lid/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/key/. Last updated 2026-11-01.