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扣 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
kòuto fastenHSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2446, Hard
kòuto buttonHSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2446, Hard
kòubuttonHSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2446, Hard
kòubuckleHSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2446, Hard
kòuknotHSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2446, Hard
kòuto arrestHSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2446, Hard
kòuto confiscateHSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2446, Hard
kòuto deduct (money)HSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2446, Hard
kòudiscountHSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2446, Hard
kòuto knockHSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2446, Hard
kòuto smash or spike (a ball)HSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2446, Hard
kòuto cover (with a bowl etc)HSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2446, Hard
kòufig. to tag a label on sbHSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2446, Hard
kòuto detain; to knock, to tap; buttonHSK 6, v, 6 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2446, Hard
kòuto smash, spike or dunk (a ball)HSK 6, unknown, 6 strokes, radical 扌, rank #2446, Hard
kòu(kou4) T4
  1. 1to fasten
  2. 2to button
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
kòu(kou4)

The character 扣 (kòu) primarily means 'to fasten' or 'to button,' but it also encompasses a range of meanings including 'to deduct,' 'to arrest,' and 'to cover.' Commonly used in both literal contexts, such as fastening clothing, and figurative contexts, such as deducting money or tagging someone, it reflects a versatile notion of attachment and removal.

Strokes6RadicalFrequency#2446DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the idea of扣 can relate to the concept of accountability, especially in financial dealings where deductions or '扣款' are common practices, reflecting a meticulous approach to managing finances.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'knot' (扣) that you use to fasten a button on your shirt. The character looks like a 'k' with a 'cover' on top ('扣'), reminding you that it’s about covering or fastening things together. Visualize tying a knot to remember its pronunciation and meaning.

Meanings of 扣

kòu(kou4)
1to fasten
2to button
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 扣

Simplified
6Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2446Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3BCTCEFRC1

Podcast: 扣

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AI Study Notes for 扣

Quick Contrast

扣 (kòu) vs 夹 (jiā) — use 扣 when referring specifically to fastening or buttoning, while 夹 is more about clamping or pinching.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'knot' (扣) that you use to fasten a button on your shirt. The character looks like a 'k' with a 'cover' on top ('扣'), reminding you that it’s about covering or fastening things together. Visualize tying a knot to remember its pronunciation and meaning.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the pronunciation as it can confuse learners when used in different tones. It's often used in contexts related to finance (扣款, 'to deduct payment') or in law enforcement (扣押, 'to detain'). Misusing it in informal contexts may lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 扣 connects with other verbs that imply action or control, such as 绑 (bǎng, 'to tie') and 拿 (ná, 'to take'). Focus on its various uses in different contexts to enhance vocabulary breadth.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the idea of扣 can relate to the concept of accountability, especially in financial dealings where deductions or '扣款' are common practices, reflecting a meticulous approach to managing finances.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 扣 with other similar-sounding words. For example, they might say 扣了 (kòu le) when they mean '扣款' (kòu kuǎn, 'deduct money'), losing the specific meaning of the term. Always clarify the context to avoid ambiguity.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 扣

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Etymology of 扣

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

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 口 represents the sound. Simplified form of 釦.

Memory Hint

hand

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 扣?

Decomposition of 扣

IDS Structure⿰扌口
Full Character
=
shou3
left
kou3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 扣?

Write 扣

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 扣

扣 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 15 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

依据公司的规定,迟到要____工资。

According to company rules, being late results in a pay deduction.

Example Sentences for 扣 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
弗兰开始不由自主地唠叨起乔恩是怎样无可避免地被扣留的。

fú lán kāi shǐ bù yóu zì zhǔ dì lào tāo qǐ qiáo ēn shì zěn yàng wú kě bì miǎn dì bèi kòu liú de。

Fran began her automatic patter about how Jon had been unavoidably detained.
2
几乎可以肯定,被逮捕的男子将被扣押在该警察局。

jī hū kě yǐ kěn dìng, , bèi dài bǔ de nán zǐ jiāng bèi kòu yā zài gāi jǐng chá。

The arrested man will almost certainly be kept at this police station.
3
他们扣留了他3个小时后放走了他。

tā mén kòu liú le tā3 3 gè xiǎo shí hòu fàng zǒu le。

They held him for three hours and they let him go.
4
她对堕胎和女权主义的反对态度表明她是个不折不扣的传统主义者。

tā duì duò tāi hé nǚ quán zhǔ yì de fǎn duì tài dù biǎo míng tā shì gè bù zhē bù kòu de chuán tǒng zhǔ yì zhě。

Her opposition to abortion and feminism mark her as a convinced traditionalist.
5
围好围巾,扣好衣服。

wéi hǎo wéi jīn, , kòu hǎo yī。

Keep your scarf on, do your coat up.
6
玛丽系好扣子。

mǎ lì xì hǎo kòu zǐ。

Mari did up the buttons.
7
请替我把衣服背后扣好, 好吗?

qǐng tì wǒ bǎ yī fú bèi hòu kòu hǎo, , hǎo?

Will you do my dress up at the back, please?
8
那部电影原来是部扣人心弦的惊悚片。

nà bù diàn yǐng yuán lái shì bù kòu rén xīn xián de jīng sǒng piàn。

The film turned out to be a gripping thriller.
9
在换季之初抢先购买通常会有折扣优惠。

zài huàn jì zhī chū qiāng xiān gòu mǎi tōng cháng huì yǒu zhē kòu yōu huì。

Early bird discounts are usually available at the beginning of the season.
10
我解开了自己黄灰相间的衬衫上最下面的两个纽扣。

wǒ jiě kāi le zì jǐ huáng huī xiāng jiān de chèn shān shàng zuì xià miàn de liǎng gè niǔ kòu。

I undid the bottom two buttons of my yellow and grey shirt.

Cultural Notes for 扣

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the idea of扣 can relate to the concept of accountability, especially in financial dealings where deductions or '扣款' are common practices, reflecting a meticulous approach to managing finances.

Word Family of 扣

Compounds1
kou4a roll of cloth
Words Containing This Character20
kòuto fasten
折扣zhékòudiscount
扣除kòuchúto deduct
扣押kòuyāto detain
纽扣niǔkòubutton紐扣
扣留kòuliúto detain
扣子button釦子
回扣huíkòubrokerage
不折不扣a hundred percent
扣篮slam dunk扣籃
打折扣to give a discount
查扣to seize
扣球to spike
钮扣button鈕釦
扣人心弦kòurénxīnxiánto excite
克扣to dock剋扣
扣缴to withhold扣繳
扣杀to spike扣殺
扣发to deprive扣發
扣帽子power word
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 筘 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 扣

Common phrases include 扣钱 (kòu qián, 'to deduct money') and 扣押 (kòu yā, 'to detain').