热水器

• Pinyin: rè shuǐ qì
• Hanzi breakdown: 热 = 埶 + 灬 — hot; 水 = pictograph of water; 器 = 口×4 + 犬 — device, container

Meaning

Water heater. An appliance that heats water for bathing and household use.

Common types include 燃气热水器 (gas water heater), 电热水器 (electric water heater), and 太阳能热水器 (solar water heater). Gas heaters are popular in cities for their instant heating, while electric tank heaters and solar heaters are common in different regions based on infrastructure.

Examples

1. 冬天洗澡前要先检查热水器是否正常工作。 In winter, you should check if the water heater is working properly before bathing.
2. 我们家的热水器用了十年，该换新的了。 Our water heater has been used for ten years — it's time to get a new one.
3. 这款热水器既节能又安全。 This water heater is both energy-efficient and safe.

Usage Guide

Context: household, appliances, daily life

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 热水器坏了。(The water heater is broken.)
• 你家用的是什么热水器？(What kind of water heater do you use at home?)

Don't Say

• 不要说'热水机' (The correct term is 热水器, not 热水机 — 器 is the standard suffix for this type of appliance)

Origin & History

Compound of 热水 (hot water) and 器 (device, appliance). A modern word for a common household appliance.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal