The Chinese word **器材** (qìcái) is a compound noun formed by combining two characters, each contributing to its overall meaning. The first character, **器** (qì), broadly means "utensil," "tool," or "implement," while the second, **材** (cái), means "material" or "substance." When combined, they create a term that refers to the collective "equipment and materials" needed for a specific activity or purpose, such as sports gear (体育器材), laboratory apparatus (实验器材), or photographic equipment (摄影器材), emphasizing both the tangible tools and the requisite supplies.