加湿器 (jiā shī qì) — humidifier (device that increases air humidity)

Definition

A 加湿器 is a device that adds moisture to indoor air, used to combat dryness from heating or AC. Don't confuse with 保湿霜/护肤品 (skincare moisturizers) — 加湿器 acts on the room, not your skin.

noun
humidifier (device that increases air humidity)
Measure word · 台

Examples

  • ，加湿器。
    Dōng tiān kāi nuǎn qì de shí hou, fáng jiān lǐ zuì hǎo fàng yí gè jiā shī qì.
    When you turn on the heating in winter, it's best to put a humidifier in the room.
  • 加湿器。
    Zhè tái jiā shī qì kě yǐ lián xù gōng zuò bā xiǎo shí.
    This humidifier can run continuously for eight hours.
  • 加湿器，。
    Yòng jiā shī qì zhī hòu, wǒ de pí fū bú zài nà me gān zào le.
    After using the humidifier, my skin isn't so dry anymore.

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.

加湿add moisture
加jiāadd湿shīmoisture
动宾Verb + object
器qìdevice

加湿 means adding moisture, and 器 is a device, so together they mean a device that adds moisture.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

加 pairs 力 and 口. In one explanation 力 is strength and 口 is the mouth, meaning exaggeration; in another 力 is plowing effort and 口 is breath or exclamation, meaning extra effort.

Open 加 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 湿 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The origin of 器 is uncertain; one traditional account reads the whole shape as a scene of guarding over four vessels.

Open 器 →

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