洗碗机 (xǐ wǎn jī) — dishwasher

Definition

noun
dishwasher
Measure word ·

Examples

  • 洗碗机
    Wǒ mǎi le yì tái xīn de xǐ wǎn jī.
    I bought a new dishwasher.
  • 洗碗机
    Yòng xǐ wǎn jī xǐ wǎn hěn fāng biàn.
    Using a dishwasher to wash dishes is very convenient.
  • 洗碗机
    Zhè tái xǐ wǎn jī néng bǎ wǎn xǐ dé hěn gān jìng.
    This dishwasher can wash the dishes very clean.

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.

洗碗wash dishes
washwǎnbowl
动宾Verb + object
machine

洗 and 碗 mean washing dishes, and 机 is a machine, together a machine for washing dishes.

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

洗 is built from 水 (water) and 先, which gives the character its sound.

Open 洗 →

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
shístone
Sound part声符shēngfú
wǎnwǎn
Same sound today

碗 combines 石 (stone) with 宛. The 石 part relates to the meaning, and 宛 gives the sound.

Open 碗 →

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
tree; wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
Same sound today

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

Open 机 →

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