扣 kòu to detain
to detain; button; to deduct; discount; to cover
How to remember 扣: 扌 hand + 口 mouth = to detain. The customs officer raises his hand, covers his mouth to cough, and waves the man with the odd suitcase aside to detain him.
Component breakdown
扣 = 扌 hand + 口 mouth
- 扌 hand
- 口 mouth
The customs officer raises his hand, covers his mouth to cough, and waves the man with the odd suitcase aside to detain him.
How it is used
- 扣 covers deducting, buttoning, and detaining - three senses tied together by the idea of "holding something back/down".
- 折扣 (zhékòu) is "discount", and 打折扣 or simply 打折 (dǎzhé) is how you say "give a discount" in shops - 打八折 (dǎ bā zhé) means 20% off.
- 扣分 (kòu fēn) means to deduct points (on a test or driving license), a very common phrase for students and drivers alike.
- 纽扣 (niǔkòu) is a literal button on clothing; 扣押/扣留 (kòuyā/kòuliú) are formal/legal terms for detaining a person or seizing goods, used in news rather than daily chat.