key
/kiː/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈi] /kiː/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈi] /ˈkē/ (ame, mw)
key — 名詞
- keysingular
- keysplural
1. a small metal object cut into a particular shape that you put into a lock to ope
鑰匙
開鎖用的金屬工具
a small metal object cut into a particular shape that you put into a lock to open or close a door, start a vehicle, or operate something that needs to be secured.
Élise put the house key into her bag before leaving for school.
Élise 出門上學前把家門鑰匙放進包包裡。
house key — type of key by function
Ryo realised he had left his car keys on the kitchen table.
Ryo 發現他把車鑰匙忘在廚房桌上了。
car keys — plural for set of keys
The old iron key to the garden gate was rusted and hard to turn.
花園大門那把舊鐵鑰匙生鏽了，很難轉動。
Beatrix handed a spare key to her neighbour so someone could water the plants.
Beatrix 把一把備用鑰匙交給鄰居，好讓對方幫忙澆花。
文法句型
key + to/of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Countable noun. When referring to a set that belongs to one person, the plural form (my keys) is very common even if the speaker owns only two or three.
常見錯誤
2. one of the small raised parts found on keyboards and musical instruments that us
按鍵；琴鍵
鍵盤或樂器上的按鍵
one of the small raised parts found on keyboards and musical instruments that users push down to type text, enter commands, or play notes.
Gabriel pressed the wrong key and the whole document disappeared from the screen.
Gabriel 按錯了一個鍵，整份文件就從螢幕上消失了。
press a key — common verb collocation
The black keys on the piano are set in groups of two and three.
鋼琴上的黑鍵是以兩個和三個為一組排列的。
Christopher cleaned the sticky keys on his laptop keyboard with a small brush.
Christopher 用小刷子清潔了筆電鍵盤上黏黏的按鍵。
Some typewriter keys would jam together if you typed too quickly.
有些打字機的按鍵如果打太快會卡住。
文法句型
key + on + noun phrase
用法筆記
On a computer, individual keyboard buttons are called keys, whereas on a touchscreen the corresponding areas are called buttons or icons.
3. a group of notes built around a central note that gives a song or instrumental w
調；調性
音樂中以某音為核心的音階體系
a group of notes built around a central note that gives a song or instrumental work its overall character and determines which notes are most commonly used in it.
Tanvi asked the guitarist to play the song in a lower key so she could sing along.
Tanvi 請吉他手用較低的調來彈這首歌，這樣她比較容易跟著唱。
in the key of — standard preposition pattern
The piece begins in C minor but shifts to a brighter key later on.
這首曲子以 C 小調開頭，但後來轉為較明亮的調。
Chidi could not tell what key the trumpet melody was written in.
Chidi 聽不出來這首小號旋律用的是什麼調。
A major and A minor are closely related keys that often appear in the same piece.
A 大調和 A 小調是關係密切的近系調，經常出現在同一首曲子裡。
- tonality
a more technical, formal term used in music theory for the same concept
文法句型
in the key of + musical note
用法筆記
Often used in the pattern 'in the key of + note name' (e.g., in the key of G major). The word 'key' also refers to the sharps or flats shown at the beginning of a musical staff (key signature).
4. a small chart or box on a map, diagram, or book that explains what the symbols,
圖例
地圖或圖表上的符號對照表
a small chart or box on a map, diagram, or book that explains what the symbols, colours, or abbreviations used in it mean.
Noor checked the map key to find out what the dotted line across the forest represented.
Noor 查看地圖圖例，想知道穿過森林的虛線代表什麼。
map key — specific collocation
Without the key it was impossible to tell which symbols stood for hospitals and which for schools.
沒有圖例的話，根本看不出哪些符號代表醫院、哪些代表學校。
The diagram key showed that blue circles marked ancient ruins and red triangles marked lookout points.
圖表上的圖例顯示藍色圓圈標示古遺址，紅色三角形標示觀景點。
Gabriel studied the key on the hiking map before choosing a trail for the afternoon.
Gabriel 研究了健行地圖上的圖例，然後選定下午要走的路線。
- legend
a slightly more formal term, especially in cartography and technical diagrams
文法句型
the key to + noun phrase
用法筆記
Also called a 'legend'. 'Key' is more common in everyday language; 'legend' is slightly more formal and is the preferred term in cartography.
常見錯誤
5. a list or sheet that shows the correct answers for the questions in a test, exer
解答；答案
練習題或測驗的答案列表
a list or sheet that shows the correct answers for the questions in a test, exercise, or puzzle, used by teachers or by learners to check their own work.
The teacher kept the answer key locked in her desk drawer during the exam.
老師在考試期間把解答本鎖在她辦公桌的抽屜裡。
answer key — standard collocation
Heloísa checked her answers against the key at the back of the workbook.
Heloísa 把自己的答案跟作業本後面的解答對照了一遍。
Cyrus finished the crossword and looked for the key to see if his answers were correct.
Cyrus 填完填字遊戲後去找解答，看看自己答對了沒有。
Karim found a typo in the answer key and told the teacher about it.
Karim 發現解答裡有個錯字，於是告訴了老師。
- answer sheet
a physical sheet where answers are written, not the list of correct answers
文法句型
answer key
key to + noun phrase
用法筆記
Almost always used in the phrase 'answer key'. Learners often confuse 'key' (the answer list) with the test itself.
常見錯誤
6. a small, low-lying island, usually in warm ocean waters, formed from coral sand
珊瑚島
熱帶海域的低矮小島
a small, low-lying island, usually in warm ocean waters, formed from coral sand or rock, and often shaped like a ring.
The boat sailed past a tiny key covered only with palm trees and white sand.
小船駛過一座只有棕櫚樹和白色沙灘的小島。
tiny key — descriptive of small island
Anong spent the afternoon snorkelling in the clear water around a coral key off the coast.
Anong 在沿海的珊瑚小島周圍清澈的海水中浮潛了一整個下午。
Many seabirds nest on the rocky keys that lie scattered across the bay.
許多海鳥在散落在海灣各處的岩石小島上築巢。
The ferry stops at several small keys before reaching the main island.
渡輪在抵達主島之前會先停靠幾座小島。
- cay
an alternative spelling, pronounced the same way, more common in the Caribbean
用法筆記
This sense is mostly used in place names in the Caribbean and Florida (e.g., the Florida Keys). Outside those regions the word 'cay' (pronounced the same way) is more common.
7. the rectangular painted area on a basketball court near each basket, where certa
禁區；油漆區
籃球場籃下的長方形區域
the rectangular painted area on a basketball court near each basket, where certain rules about player positioning and fouls apply.
Karim drove towards the basket and stepped into the key before making a jump shot.
Karim 帶球往籃下切入，踏進禁區後跳投。
step into the key — common basketball move
The referee called a three-second violation because the centre had stayed in the key for too long.
裁判吹了籃下三秒違例，因為中鋒在禁區內待太久。
Players cannot stand inside the key for more than three seconds while their team has the ball.
攻方球員持球時不得在禁區內停留超過三秒鐘。
Noor passed the ball to a teammate at the top of the key for an open shot.
Noor 把球傳給禁區頂端的隊友，讓他空檔投籃。
- free-throw lane
the official term in basketball rulebooks; 'key' is the everyday player term
- the paint
an informal term based on the fact that this area is usually painted a different colour
用法筆記
Also called the 'free-throw lane' or 'the paint'. In official basketball rules, this is the area between the free-throw line and the baseline, bounded by lane lines.
8. something that provides a way to understand, achieve, or gain access to somethin
關鍵；要訣
達成或理解某事的要素
something that provides a way to understand, achieve, or gain access to something else, often used figuratively to describe the most important factor for success or comprehension.
Hard work and patience are the key to mastering any new skill.
努力和耐心是掌握任何新技能的關鍵。
the key to + gerund — common pattern
The librarian said that regular practice was the key to improving your reading speed.
圖書館員說，規律練習是提升閱讀速度的關鍵。
A good night's sleep could be the key to solving difficult problems more easily.
一夜好眠可能是更輕鬆解決難題的關鍵。
The police believed the missing phone was the key to the mystery.
警方認為那支遺失的手機是解開謎團的關鍵。
- barrier
something that prevents access or understanding
文法句型
the key to + noun phrase / gerund
用法筆記
Always followed by 'to' (not 'of') when indicating what is being achieved or understood: the key to success, the key to the puzzle. The sense is singular even when paired with a plural subject: 'Hard work and discipline are the key to…' (treating 'key' as a singular concept).
常見錯誤
key — 形容詞
- keypositive
- keyercomparative
- keyestsuperlative
1. extremely important or essential, especially because other things depend on it o
關鍵
非常重要且具決定性影響的
extremely important or essential, especially because other things depend on it or are strongly affected by it.
Communication is a key skill for anyone working in a team environment.
溝通能力是在團隊環境中工作的人必備的關鍵技能。
key skill — common attributive use
The finance director played a key role in the company's decision to expand overseas.
財務總監在公司決定拓展海外業務的過程中扮演了關鍵角色。
key role — common collocation
Sunlight is a key factor in helping young plants grow strong and healthy.
陽光是幫助幼苗健康茁壯生長的關鍵因素。
Christopher was a key player in the negotiations between the two sides.
Christopher 是雙方談判中的關鍵人物。
- minor
of little importance or influence
- unimportant
not having any significant effect
文法句型
key + noun
key to + noun phrase / gerund
用法筆記
Used only before a noun (attributive position). You cannot say 'This factor is key' in formal written English, though you may hear it informally. In formal contexts, use 'crucial' or 'essential' predicatively: 'This factor is crucial.'
常見錯誤
key — 動詞
- keypresent simple I / you / we / they
- keys3rd person singular
- keying-ing form
- keyedpast simple
1. to deliberately scratch the surface of a car or other vehicle with a metal key,
刮花；刮車
用鑰匙故意刮傷汽車表面
to deliberately scratch the surface of a car or other vehicle with a metal key, usually to damage or vandalise it.
Someone keyed the side of Ryo's new car while it was parked outside the cinema.
有人把 Ryo 的新車停在電影院外面時，在車側刮了一道長痕。
key + someone's car — typical object pattern
The security camera caught a person keying vehicles in the parking lot after midnight.
監視器拍到一個人在午夜過後用鑰匙刮停車場裡的車。
keying vehicles — gerund form
Karim was furious when he found a long scratch where someone had keyed his door.
Karim 看到車門上被人用鑰匙刮出的長刮痕時非常生氣。
The neighbour admitted to keying the truck after an argument about the parking space.
鄰居承認因為停車位的糾紛而用鑰匙刮了那輛卡車。
- scratch
more general term; does not specify the tool used
文法句型
key + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used with a car as the direct object. The action is considered vandalism and is illegal in most places. The word is informal but widely understood.
常見錯誤
key — 慣用語
1. Francis Scott Key (1779–1843), an American lawyer and poet who wrote the words t
法蘭西斯·基
美國國歌作詞人，1779–1843
Francis Scott Key (1779–1843), an American lawyer and poet who wrote the words to 'The Star-Spangled Banner', the national anthem of the United States.
Francis Scott Key wrote the poem during the War of 1812.
Francis Scott Key 在 1812 年戰爭期間寫下了這首詩。
biographical name — historical figure
A statue of Francis Scott Key stands in a park near Baltimore harbour.
Francis Scott Key 的雕像矗立在巴爾的摩港附近的一座公園裡。
Schoolchildren across America learn about Francis Scott Key and his famous song.
全美國的學童都會認識 Francis Scott Key 和他那首著名的歌曲。
The bridge named after Francis Scott Key collapsed in 2024 after a ship struck it.
以 Francis Scott Key 命名的橋樑在 2024 年遭船隻撞擊後倒塌。
用法筆記
This is a biographical name, not an idiom. It appears here because the source grouped it as a multi-word expression. The name 'Key' in this sense is always a proper noun and refers specifically to the historical figure.
2. Sir John Phillip Key (born 1961), a New Zealand politician who served as the 38t
約翰·基
紐西蘭前總理，2008–2016 在任
Sir John Phillip Key (born 1961), a New Zealand politician who served as the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 2008 to 2016.
John Key led the National Party to three election wins.
John Key 帶領國家黨贏得了三次大選。
biographical name — NZ prime minister
During his time in office, John Key focused on economic recovery after the 2008 crisis.
John Key 在任內致力於 2008 年金融危機後的經濟復甦。
Many New Zealanders remember John Key for his response to the Christchurch earthquake.
許多紐西蘭人因為 John Key 處理基督城地震的方式而對他印象深刻。
John Key resigned as Prime Minister in December 2016 after eight years leading the country.
John Key 在領導國家八年後，於 2016 年 12 月辭去總理一職。
用法筆記
This is a biographical entry for the former prime minister. The surname 'Key' here is unrelated to the other senses of the word and is a family name.