1.
key (physical or digital)
A key for a lock, a keyboard key, or a key element/factor.
キー comes from English "key" and is used in multiple contexts.
Compounds
- キーボード: keyboard
- キーワード: keyword
- キーパーソン: key person
- キーポイント: key point
- キーホルダー: keychain (Japanese coinage)
- マスターキー: master key
- カーキー: car key
Similar words
- 鍵: key (native Japanese word, used for physical keys and locks)
- キー is more commonly used in compounds and technical contexts, while 鍵 is the everyday word for physical keys.
Usage
キーホルダー (key holder) is a Japanese-English coinage meaning "keychain." In English, a "key holder" usually means a wall-mounted rack for keys.