微波炉

• Pinyin: wēi bō lú
• Hanzi breakdown: 微 = 彳 (step) + 山 (mountain) + 攵 (tap), meaning tiny; 波 = 氵 (water) + 皮 (skin), meaning wave; 炉 = 火 (fire) + 户 (door), meaning stove

Meaning

Microwave oven. A kitchen appliance that heats food using microwave radiation.

A common household appliance in modern Chinese homes. Used primarily for reheating food, defrosting, and quick cooking. Often shortened to 微波 in casual speech when the context is clear. Related: 烤箱 (oven), 电饭煲 (rice cooker).

Examples

1. 把剩菜放进微波炉里热两分钟就可以吃了。 Put the leftovers in the microwave for two minutes and they'll be ready to eat.
2. 微波炉不能加热金属容器，会产生火花。 You can't heat metal containers in a microwave; it will cause sparks.
3. 这个微波炉用了十年了，是时候换一个新的了。 This microwave has been used for ten years; it's time to get a new one.

Usage Guide

Context: kitchen, household, everyday

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 帮我用微波炉热一下牛奶。(Help me heat up the milk in the microwave.)
• 微波炉坏了，得修一修。(The microwave is broken; it needs to be fixed.)

Don't Say

• 我用微波炉煮饭 — 煮饭一般用电饭煲，不用微波炉

Origin & History

Compound of 微波 (microwave) + 炉 (oven/stove). Literally 'microwave oven,' a direct translation of the English term.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal