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洗衣机 (xǐ yī jī) — washing machine

Definition

noun
washing machine
Measure word · 台

Examples

  • 洗衣机。
    Mā ma yòng xǐ yī jī xǐ yī fu.
    Mom uses the washing machine to wash clothes.
  • 洗衣机。
    Jiā lǐ yǒu yì tái xīn de xǐ yī jī.
    There is a new washing machine at home.
  • 洗衣机。
    Qǐng bǎ xǐ yī jī de mén guān shàng.
    Please close the door of the washing machine.

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.

洗衣wash clothes
洗xǐwash衣yīclothes
动宾Verb + object
机jīmachine

洗衣 means washing clothes, and 机 is a machine, so it names a machine for washing clothes.

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
先
先xiān洗xǐ
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 →

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

The shape of 衣 comes from an outline of the chest and upper clothing.

Open 衣 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 3HSK 2.0 Level 4Cleaning & Chores

Browse more HSK 3 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.