열쇠
yeolsoe · TOPIK 1
key
🔑 열쇠 = 열 (open, from 열다) + 쇠 (metal): the opening-metal
열 comes from the verb 열다, to open, and 쇠 is the native Korean word for iron or metal. So a key is literally the piece of metal that opens. The same 쇠 turns up in 자물쇠 (lock), the metal that fastens.