按 (àn) is a Chinese character meaning “to press (down)”. It is written from 扌 (hand (radical form)) and 安 (safe; at peace), side by side, and takes 9 strokes.
Build the character for “to press”
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Structure
扌 + 安
Left–right structure
Structure from: 说文解字「按，下也。从手安聲」；IDS 拆分 ⿰扌安，并以 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验：笔画 0–2 为「扌」，笔画 3–8 与「安」逐笔对应（3+6=9画）
Memory aid
A hand (扌) pushing down on 安 until everything is settled and quiet — that is what it means to press.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
9 strokes
In real words
- 按时àn shíon time; on schedule按 = ànHSK 4
- 按照àn zhàoaccording to; in accordance with按 = ànHSK 4
- 按捺àn nàto restrain; to hold back (one’s feelings)按 = àn
- 按钮àn niǔbutton; push button (on a machine or device)按 = àn
Go deeper
All readings
to press
to press (down); to push (a button); according to; in accordance with
用手压或摁；也表示依照某个标准去做。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 按时àn shíon time; on schedule按 = ànHSK 4
- 按照àn zhàoaccording to; in accordance with按 = ànHSK 4
- 按捺àn nàto restrain; to hold back (one’s feelings)按 = àn
- 按钮àn niǔbutton; push button (on a machine or device)按 = àn
Sound component
安 family tone diff
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 按 mean?
按 (àn) means to press (down); to push (a button); according to; in accordance with.
How do you pronounce 按?
It is pronounced àn.
What parts is 按 made of?
扌 (hand (radical form)) and 安 (safe; at peace), side by side. The recorded source is: 说文解字「按，下也。从手安聲」；IDS 拆分 ⿰扌安，并以 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验：笔画 0–2 为「扌」，笔画 3–8 与「安」逐笔对应（3+6=9画）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 按 have?
9. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 按?
扌. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 按?
Common ones are 按时 and 按照. The reading of 按 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.