Meaning of 机关
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- mechanism; gear
- machine-operated
- office; agency; organ; organization; establishment; institution; body
- stratagem; scheme; intrigue; plot; trick
How to use 机关
In modern Chinese 机关 most often means a government office or public institution, as in 政府机关 (zhèngfǔ jīguān) government agency. It can also mean a hidden mechanism or trap in stories and games, and in idioms it means a scheme. Example: 他在国家机关工作。(Tā zài guójiā jīguān gōngzuò.) He works in a state agency.
机 (jī) means machine, as in 飞机 (fēijī) airplane, and 关 (guān) means a gate or switch, as in 关上 (guānshang) to close. A hidden switch that opens a gate is a mechanism, and a big organization is like a machine with many controlled gates.
Common mistake: Learners often use 机关 for any company. It usually refers to government or official bodies, so a private business is 公司 (gōngsī), not 机关. Also keep the first tone on both syllables: jīguān, not jīguǎn.
机关 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
机 jī · desk · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
关 guān · mountain pass · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Related words
Words that share a character with 机关.
| 没关系 | méi guānxi | it doesn't matter |
| 飞机 | fēijī | airplane |
| 手机 | shǒujī | cell phone; mobile phone |
| 机场 | jīchǎng | airport; airfield; (slang) service provider for Shadowsocks or similar software for circum |
| 关上 | guānshang | to close (a door); to turn off (light, electrical equipment etc) |
| 机票 | jīpiào | plane ticket; airline ticket |
| 电视机 | diànshìjī | television set |
| 机会 | jīhuì | opportunity; chance |
| 关心 | guānxīn | to be concerned about; to care about |
| 司机 | sījī | chauffeur; driver |
| 相机 | xiàngjī | camera (abbr. for 照相機|照相机[zhao4 xiang4 ji1]); at the opportune moment |
| 计算机 | jìsuànjī | computer; (Tw) calculator |
Questions about 机关
What does 机关 mean?
机关 (jīguān) means "mechanism; gear; machine-operated" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 机关?
机关 is made of 2 characters: 机 (6 strokes), 关 (6 strokes). That is 12 strokes in total.
Is 机关 an HSK word?
Yes. 机关 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 机关 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 机关 is written 機關.
What does 机关算尽 mean?
机关算尽 (jīguān suàn jìn) means to use up every trick and scheme. It uses the stratagem sense of 机关 and is often said about someone whose clever plotting fails in the end.
How is 机关 different from 机构 (jīgòu)?
机构 is a broad word for any organization or institution, including private ones. 机关 leans toward government and party offices, as in 机关单位 (jīguān dānwèi) government work unit.