Definitions

(noun) machine; engine
(noun) opportunity
(noun) aircraft
(noun) crucial point; key element

Etymology

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

About

The character '机', traditionally written as '機', is structurally composed of the wood radical paired with the phonetic element '幾', indicating its early association with wooden implements like looms or mechanical triggers. Its semantic scope gradually expanded from these concrete artifacts to encompass abstract notions such as critical junctures or fundamental principles, mirroring broader cultural advancements. The simplified form '机' replaces the phonetic component with '几', originally denoting a small table, yet through systematic character simplification it has assimilated the full range of meanings from its traditional predecessor, continuing to denote both mechanical devices and metaphorical opportunities within the language.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Wu (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这是一架飞

Zhè shì yī jià fēijī.

This is an airplane.

我的手坏了。

Wǒ de shǒujī huài le.

My phone is broken.

他抓住了好会。

Tā zhuāzhù le hǎo jīhuì.

He seized a good opportunity.

场里有很多人。

Jīchǎng lǐ yǒu hěn duō rén.

There are many people at the airport.

器人的技术很先进。

Jīqìrén de jìshù hěn xiānjìn.

Robot technology is very advanced.

智地解决了问题。

Tā jīzhì de jiějué le wèntí.

She cleverly solved the problem.

这个关的设计非常巧妙。

Zhège jīguān de shèjì fēicháng qiǎomiào.

The design of this mechanism is very ingenious.

在危中寻找转需要智慧。

Zài wēijī zhōng xúnzhǎo zhuǎnjī xūyào zhìhuì.

Finding a turnaround in a crisis requires wisdom.