crucial point / crux / CL: 個｜个 / key / crucial / pivotal

important point; main point; focus / key (project etc) / to focus on; to put the emphasis on

key / CL: 把

nervous / keyed up / intense / tense / strained / in short supply / scarce / CL: 陣｜阵

essential factor / key constituent

element (key component of sth) / (chemistry) element / (math.) element (member of a set)

key information / instructions / it must be borne in mind

USB key used as a security token in Chinese online banking

to transfer / to move (troops or cadres) / to investigate / to enquire into / accent / view / argument / key (in music) / mode (music) / tune / tone / melody

key (on a piano or computer keyboard) / button (on a mouse or other device) / chemical bond / linchpin

button or key (on a device) / keystroke / CL: 個｜个 / to press a button

key document / important condition / criterion / requirement / requisite / cornerstone

main key (of a musical composition) / keynote (speech)

secret know-how / key (to longevity) / secret (of happiness) / recipe (for success)

head rope of a fishing net / guiding principle / key link / class (taxonomy) / outline / program

(of a bird, animal or plant) male / key / hills

Steven (name) / Simon Stevin (1548-1620), Flemish engineer and mathematician, played a key role in introducing the decimal system to Europe

(dialect) key / Taiwan pr. [suo3 shi5]

low pitch / quiet (voice) / subdued / low-key / low-profile

key participant / VIP

(computer) shortcut key / hotkey

to storm a strategic pass / fig. to tackle a key problem

vital part / (fig.) key point / crucial

joint (physiology) / key point / critical phase

(music) to change key / modulation / (of an employee) to be transferred to another post

key / also pr. [yao4]

golden rule / key principle

key strength / strong suit / specialty

hole / opening / orifice (of the human body) / (fig.) key (to the solution of a problem)

key moment / decisive opportunity

key job / important position

the key trick / the secret of success

key and lock / (fig.) strategic place

out of tune / off-key

lit. to not show the mountain and to not reveal the water (idiom); fig. to hide the key facts

flute / key

commander-in-chief (military) / star player (sports) / key figure (in an organization)

axle / (fig.) central element / key element / axis (alliance of nations)

key task / important affair

xiaodiao, a Chinese folk song genre / minor key (in music)

to key in / to input

tone sandhi / modified tone / (music) to change key / modulation

the whole year must be planned for in the spring (idiom) / early planning is the key to success

notes / key (to exercises)

important substance (of a document) / key section

a piano key

important road / main thoroughfare / fig. key position

trusted assistant; key aide

key post

lacking three key attributes (or at least one of them)

critical juncture / key moment

electric key / switch

master key / skeleton key / passkey

secret / trick / knack / key

off-key / out of tune (music)

to be off-key or out of tune (while singing) (colloquial)

to pixelate an image / to key in captcha authentication codes

tone mark on a Chinese syllable (i.e. accents on ā á ǎ à) / (music) key signature

melody / pitch or key (music) / tone / style / point of view

bridgehead (military) / stronghold serving as a base for advancing further into enemy territory / bridge tower (ornamental structure at either end of a bridge) / (fig.) gateway (place that provides access to other places beyond it) / bridgehead (key location serving as a base for further expansion)

falling intonation (linguistics) / to lower the key of a tune / to demote

laryngopharynx / fig. a key position

key word

(literary) key location / key post (important job)

tonic triad / triad of the home key

off-key singing voice / sb who sings off-key

One key opens one lock. / There is a different solution for each problem. (idiom)

lit. to have accumulated knowledge and deliver it slowly (idiom) / good preparation is the key to success / to be well prepared

to key in / to input

to turn a vehicle around / (computing) "carriage return" character / the "Enter" key / to hit the "Enter" key

confidential aspects of a matter / secrets / key moment for action

to control a key point is to be master of the situation (idiom)

Martin Luther (1483-1546), key figure of the Protestant Reformation

(of a voice) husky / hoarse / affected / (music) to go off-key

fraction (of a distillate) / key (one component part of a distillate)

major key (in music)

key point / crux / (old) Daoist (facetious)

spoon / key

lit. to strangle the front and press the back (idiom) / fig. to occupy all key points (military)

up arrow key (on keyboard)

down arrow key (on keyboard)

to play a major role in a creative endeavor (e.g. making a movie) / person who plays a key creative role (e.g. movie director)

prime, key or main suspect (law)

to take caution as the key (idiom); to proceed very carefully

Allen key / hex key

public key (in encryption)

right arrow key (on keyboard)

National Key Disciplines (disciplines recognized as important and supported by PRC central government, including medicine, science, chemistry, engineering, commerce and law)

State Key Laboratories (university laboratories in PRC supported by the central government)

(cryptography) key

left arrow key (on keyboard)

serial number / product key (software)

keypad tone / key tone

keys of authority

Today is the key to the past.

private key (in encryption)

flute / pipe / key / CL: 把

arrow key (on keyboard)

chroma key / bluescreen / greenscreen (video editing)

important traffic hub / key crossroad