Kagi is the Japanese word for ‘key’, explained

What does “kagi” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “kagi” to mean ‘key’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese movies, songs, novels, manga, anime, and the like. In this blog post, however, I will explain this word in detail based on its kanji character. And also, I will explain how to use it through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners understand “kagi” more clearly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “kagi”
• What does “kagi” literally mean in Japanese?
  • Example #1: how to say “key” in Japanese
  • Example #2: another usage of “kagi”
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “kagi”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “kagi”.

• kagi – 鍵 (かぎ) : a noun meaning ‘key’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.

Native speakers use this noun normally to refer to a key or keys in Japanese. In addition, they sometimes use this as a metaphor for something which brings someone to another place or situation. So, the usages are very similar to those of the English noun, “key”, I think.

The definition and meaning are not that difficult. To understand this noun more clearly, however, let me explain its kanji character in detail.

What does “kagi” literally mean in Japanese?

The kanji character of “kagi” consists of the following two parts:

• 金 : a kanji character used to mean ‘money’, ‘gold’, or more generally ‘metal’ in Japanese.
• 建 : a kanji character used to mean ‘building’ in Japanese.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kagi” literally means ‘metal for buildings’ in Japanese. This literal interpretation is not completely in line with the actual meaning, but still understandable, I think. Keys are often made of metal and used to enter buildings.

When we meet new kanji characters, we should check their parts in detail to understand their meanings clearly and deeply. In many cases, kanji parts tell us a lot about the meanings of the characters they form. Actually, here, we could get the better understanding of “kagi” through the detailed check above.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “kagi” together with its kanji parts. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentences below.

Example #1: how to say “key” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “watashi” to make the subject in the sentence.
• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
• ni – に : a case particle used to say in which direction an action goes. In the example, this is used after “kanojo” to say to whom the action described by “watashi ta” is directed.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kagi” to make the object in the sentence.
• watashi – 渡し (わたし) : one conjugation of the verb, “watasu“, which means ‘to pass’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. In the example, this is used after “watashi” to make its past tense form, “watashi ta”.

This is a typical usage of “kagi”. In this example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to become the object in the sentence.

Example #2: another usage of “kagi”

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kore – これ : a demonstrative pronoun used to refer to something close to the speaker. In the example, this is used to mean ‘this’ in Japanese.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kore” to make the subject in the sentence.
• kagaku – 化学 (かがく) : a noun meaning ‘chemistry’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle joining two nouns. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, the first “no” works to join “kagaku” and “rikai”. The formed phrase literally means ‘the understanding of chemistry’ in Japanese. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this case particle is similar to those of some English prepositions like “of”.
• rikai – 理解 (りかい) : a noun meaning ‘understanding’ in Japanese.
• desu – です : an auxiliary verb used after a noun or adjective to make it polite. In the example, this is used after “kagaku no rikai no kagi” to make it sound polite.

This is another typical usage of “kagi”. In this example, it works as a metaphor for the thing which makes people better understand chemistry.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “kagi” in detail based on its kanji character. And also, I’ve explained how to use it through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• kagi – 鍵 (かぎ) : a noun meaning ‘key’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. The left part of this kanji character means ‘metal’; the right part means ‘building’. So, this kanji character literally means ‘metal for buildings’ in Japanese. This literal interpretation is not completely in line with the actual meaning, but still understandable, I think. Keys are often made of metal and used to enter buildings. Native speakers use this noun normally to refer to a key or keys in Japanese. In addition, they sometimes use this as a metaphor for something which brings someone to another place or situation.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.