洗衣机

• Pinyin: xǐ yī jī
• Hanzi breakdown: 洗 = 氵(water) + 先 (first, phonetic); 衣 = pictograph of a garment; 机 = 木 (wood) + 几 (small table, phonetic)

Meaning

Washing machine. A household appliance for washing clothes.

A very common household noun. 洗衣机 specifically refers to the clothes washing machine. In daily life, you might also hear 全自动洗衣机 (fully automatic washing machine) or 滚筒洗衣机 (front-loading washing machine).

Examples

1. 我家的洗衣机坏了。 Our washing machine is broken.
2. 把脏衣服放进洗衣机里。 Put the dirty clothes into the washing machine.
3. 这台洗衣机是新买的。 This washing machine was just bought.

Usage Guide

Context: household, daily life, appliances

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 洗衣机洗完了，快去晾衣服。(The washing machine is done, go hang up the clothes quickly.)
• 我需要买一台新洗衣机。(I need to buy a new washing machine.)

Don't Say

• 说洗机而省略衣 (Don't shorten it to 洗机 — the full word 洗衣机 must be used; 洗机 is not a word)

Origin & History

洗 (xǐ, to wash) + 衣 (yī, clothes) + 机 (jī, machine). Literally 'clothes-washing machine.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal