Meaning
按钮 refers to a button or switch that you press to activate or control something. It can be a physical button on a device, appliance, or machine, as well as a clickable button in software interfaces. The word literally combines 按 (to press) and 钮 (knob/button), making its meaning transparent.
Usage
按钮 is commonly used for both physical buttons (like those on appliances, elevators, remote controls) and digital buttons (like those in apps and websites). Native speakers use this word in everyday contexts when discussing electronics, computers, and machinery. It's a neutral, standard term appropriate for all registers.
Examples
- 01请按红色按钮启动机器。.Please press the red button to start the machine.
- 02这个网站的按钮设计得很漂亮。.The buttons on this website are designed very beautifully.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个按钮
- 只两只按钮
Common collocations
- 按按钮press a button
- 点击按钮click a button
- 电源按钮power button
- 紧急按钮emergency button
Origin
The character 钮 originally referred to a knob or clasp, often made of metal (note the metal radical 钅). Combined with 按 (to press), the compound naturally evolved to mean any button that is pressed to operate something.