机件 (jī jiàn) — mechanical parts, components; works (of a machine), mechanism

Definition

Refers to the individual parts or the internal workings of a machine, often with a technical or engineering tone. It is a concrete noun — unlike abstract 部件/零件, it often implies a moving mechanism (e.g. the works of a clock).

noun
mechanical partscomponentsworks (of a machine)mechanism
Measure word · 个
Easily confused

Examples

  • 机件。
    Zhè tái jī qì de jī jiàn xū yào dìng qī jiǎn chá.
    The parts of this machine need regular inspection.
  • 机件。
    Zhōng biǎo de jī jiàn fēi cháng jīng mì.
    The works of the clock are very precise.
  • 机件。
    Qì chē fā dòng jī de jī jiàn yǐ jīng lǎo huà le.
    The parts of the car engine have aged.

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.

机jīmachine
件jiàncomponent

The 件 (components) belonging to a 机 (machine).

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.

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.

Open 机 →

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

件 is made of 人, 'man', and 牛, 'cow'.

Open 件 →

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