空调机 (kōng tiáo jī) — air conditioner (unit) | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

air conditioner (unit)

Measure word · 台

Examples

空调机。
Wǒ mǎi le yì tái xīn de kōng tiáo jī.
I bought a new air conditioner.
空调机，。
kōng tiáo jī Huài le, xū yào xiū lǐ.
The air conditioner is broken and needs repair.
，空调机！
Tiān qì zhè me rè, kuài kāi kōng tiáo jī ba!
It's so hot, turn on the air conditioner!

Origin

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.

空调air conditioning

空kōngair调tiáoregulate

偏正Modifier + head

机jīmachine

The parts for 空 air, 调 regulate, and 机 machine suggest a machine that regulates air.

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.

穴工空

Meaning part形符xíngfú

穴穴xuécave, hole

Sound part声符shēngfú

工

工gōng空kōng

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

空 is built from 穴, a cave or hole, and 工, which 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 調; 调 is its simplified writing.

言周調

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

周

周zhōu調tiáo

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 調 pairs 言 (speech) with 周, which shows how it was pronounced. The simplified 调 is a later shorthand.

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

几jǐ机jī

Same sound today

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

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