空调

• Pinyin: kōng tiáo
• Hanzi breakdown: 空 = 穴 (cave) + 工 (work), meaning empty/air; 调 = 讠(speech) + 周 (around), meaning to adjust or harmonise

Meaning

Air conditioning; air conditioner. A system or device for controlling indoor temperature.

Short for 空气调节 (air regulation). Refers to both the air conditioning system and the physical unit. Used extremely commonly in daily life, especially during summer. Common collocations include 开空调 (turn on the AC), 关空调 (turn off the AC), and 空调房 (air-conditioned room).

Examples

1. 天太热了，快开空调吧。 It's too hot — turn on the air conditioning quickly.
2. 这个房间的空调坏了。 The air conditioner in this room is broken.
3. 不要把空调温度调得太低。 Don't set the air conditioning temperature too low.

Usage Guide

Context: home, office, everyday

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 你能帮我开一下空调吗？(Can you help me turn on the air conditioning?)
• 空调开太久了，有点儿冷。(The AC has been on too long — it's a bit cold.)

Don't Say

• 请打空调。(Don't say 打空调 — use 开 to turn on and 关 to turn off. Say 请开空调.)

Origin & History

Abbreviation of 空气调节器 (air regulation device). 空 means air/empty, 调 means to adjust/regulate. The shortened form 空调 became the standard word as air conditioning became widespread in China.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal