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随机 (suí jī) — (adjective) random, stochastic; (adverb) randomly, at random

Definition

随机 means 'random' in a technical/probabilistic sense (random sampling, randomly generated). Unlike 任意 (arbitrary, willful) or 偶然 (by chance, accidental), it implies a systematic or computational randomness rather than personal whim or coincidence.

adjective
randomstochastic
adverb
randomlyat random

Examples

  • 随机。
    Diào chá cǎi yòng le suí jī chōu yàng de fāng fǎ.
    The survey used random sampling.
  • 随机。
    Zhè ge yóu xì de jiǎng lì shì suí jī fēn pèi de.
    The rewards in this game are distributed randomly.
  • 随机。
    Diàn nǎo huì suí jī shēng chéng yí gè yàn zhèng mǎ.
    The computer will randomly generate a verification code.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

随suífollow
机jīoccasion

“随” is to follow and “机” is the occasion, so acting according to circumstances.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 隨; 随 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalking
Sound part声符shēngfú
𡐦
𡐦𡐦隨suí
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 隨 pairs 辵 (walking) with 𡐦 (the sound part); the simplified 随 is a later shorthand.

Open 随 →

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 7-9Abstract Concepts

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.