机体 (jī tǐ) — organism (living body); airframe; main body of…

Definition

机体 (jītǐ) means 'organism (a living body)' in biology and 'airframe / main body of a machine' in engineering — the same word covers both senses.

noun

organism (living body)airframemain body of a machine (e.g. aircraft, engine)

Measure word · 个

机体。
Rén tǐ de jī tǐ yóu duō gè xì tǒng zǔ chéng.
The human body is composed of multiple systems.
机体。
Zhè jià fēi jī de jī tǐ cǎi yòng le xīn xíng cái liào.
The airframe of this aircraft uses new materials.
机体。
Wēi shēng wù shì ròu yǎn kàn bú jiàn de wēi xiǎo jī tǐ.
Microorganisms are tiny organisms invisible to the naked eye.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

机jīmachine/life

机体 pairs 机 'machine' or 'life' with 体 'body', naming an organism or main body.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

木几机

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree; wood

Sound part声符shēngfú

几

Same sound today

The left part is 木 (tree; wood), and the right part 几 gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 體; 体 is its simplified writing.

骨豊體

Meaning part形符xíngfú

骨骨gǔbone

Sound part声符shēngfú

豊

豊lǐ體tǐ

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 體 pairs 骨 (bone) with 豊 as a sound part; this note is about 體, not about the parts of 体.

Appears in