械

xiè

戒 + 木

Definitions

xiè (noun) mechanical device; tool; machinery

xiè (noun) weapon; arms

xiè (noun) shackles; fetters

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 戒 represents the sound.

Semantic: 木 Phonetic: 戒

About

械 is a phono-semantic compound combining the wood radical 木 and the phonetic component 戒. The 木 reflects the original wooden construction of the objects named, while 戒 (meaning 'to guard' or 'warn') supplies the sound and a connotation of defense or preparedness. The character initially designated wooden fetters or restraints for prisoners. Its meaning later broadened to tools, implements, and weapons, and eventually extended to modern machinery and mechanical devices, long after materials diversified beyond wood.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这是机械零件。

Zhè shì jīxiè língjiàn.

This is a mechanical part.

工厂使用很多器械。

Gōngchǎng shǐyòng hěnduō qìxiè.

The factory uses a lot of equipment.

他负责维护枪械。

Tā fùzé wéihù qiāngxiè.

He is responsible for maintaining firearms.

机械自动化提高了效率。

Jīxiè zìdònghuà tígāo le xiàolǜ.

Mechanical automation has improved efficiency.

这些医疗器械非常精密。

Zhèxiē yīliáo qìxiè fēicháng jīngmì.

These medical instruments are very precise.

警方收缴了非法械斗的武器。

Jǐngfāng shōujiǎo le fēifǎ xièdòu de wǔqì.

The police confiscated weapons from illegal armed fights.

农业机械化是现代农业的标志。

Nóngyè jīxièhuà shì xiàndài nóngyè de biāozhì.

Agricultural mechanization is a sign of modern agriculture.

工程师设计了新型的机械手臂。

Gōngchéngshī shèjì le xīnxíng de jīxiè shǒubì.

The engineer designed a new type of mechanical arm.

Related Characters

Component: 戒

Component: 木

械