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机子 (jī zǐ) — small machine or device (colloquial); loom (for weaving); trigger (of a gun or mechanism)

Definition

Colloquial spoken word for a 'small machine or device' — similar to 机器 but informal and usually for everyday gadgets, not industrial equipment. The 'loom' and 'trigger' senses are specialized/regional.

noun
small machine or device (colloquial)loom (for weaving)trigger (of a gun or mechanism)
Measure word · 台

Examples

  • 机子，。
    Zhè ge jī zǐ hěn hǎo yòng, wǒ měi tiān dōu lí bù kāi tā.
    This device is very useful; I can't do without it every day.
  • 机子。
    Lǎo yé ye yòng nà tái gǔ lǎo de jī zǐ zhī bù.
    The old grandpa weaves cloth with that ancient loom.
  • 机子，。
    Qiāng de jī zǐ huài le, xū yào xiū lǐ.
    The gun's trigger is broken and needs repair.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

机jīmachine/device
子zǐcolloquial noun ending

机 means a machine or device; 子 is a common colloquial noun ending, so 机子 names a small machine, loom, or trigger.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
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