Meaning of 机器
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- machine
Measure word: 臺|台,部,個|个
How to use 机器
机器 is the general word for a machine or piece of machinery, and it often appears in compounds like 机器人 (jīqìrén, robot). Example: 这台机器坏了。(Zhè tái jīqì huài le.) This machine is broken.
Think of 机 (jī) as the moving mechanism, the same 机 you see in 飞机 (fēijī) and 手机 (shǒujī), and 器 (qì) as a tool or device. Put them together and a mechanism plus a device gives you a machine.
Common mistake: Learners often say 机器 when they mean a specific device like a phone or TV. Chinese usually uses the specific word instead, such as 手机 (shǒujī) or 电视机 (diànshìjī). Also keep both tones distinct: jī is first tone and qì is fourth tone, not qí.
机器 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
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器 qì · device · 16 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 机器.
| 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 |
| 机票 | jīpiào | plane ticket; airline ticket |
| 电视机 | diànshìjī | television set |
| 机会 | jīhuì | opportunity; chance |
| 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 |
| 关机 | guānjī | to turn off (a machine or device); to finish shooting a film |
| 洗衣机 | xǐyījī | washing machine; washer |
| 开机 | kāijī | to start an engine; to boot up (a computer) |
Questions about 机器
What does 机器 mean?
机器 (jīqì) means "machine" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 机器?
机器 is made of 2 characters: 机 (6 strokes), 器 (16 strokes). That is 22 strokes in total.
Is 机器 an HSK word?
Yes. 机器 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 机器 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 机器 is written 機器.
What measure word is used with 机器?
The most common measure word is 台 (tái), as in 一台机器 (yì tái jīqì, one machine). You may also hear 部 (bù) or 个 (gè) in casual speech.
Can 机器 describe a person?
Yes, figuratively. Calling someone 像机器一样 (xiàng jīqì yíyàng) means they act like a machine, working nonstop or without feeling.