机

jī

Pinyin
jī
Pinyin (Plain)
ji
Tone
1
Strokes
6
Radical
木
Readings
jījiTone: 1surname JiOrder: 0Primary
Stroke Order Code
Speed
Stroke Order Data
["M 331 513 Q 418 540 420 541 Q 427 548 423 557 Q 416 567 388 574 Q 360 578 332 568 L 286 551 Q 178 520 96 508 Q 62 501 87 486 Q 123 465 192 481 Q 226 490 267 497 L 331 513 Z", "M 282 421 Q 278 336 277 241 Q 271 165 250 93 Q 238 54 263 -9 Q 270 -28 278 -31 Q 284 -38 292 -29 Q 299 -25 310 -4 Q 320 21 320 52 Q 319 100 331 513 L 332 568 Q 332 569 333 570 Q 334 667 354 731 Q 363 747 360 760 Q 353 770 298 805 Q 274 823 253 807 Q 249 803 254 787 Q 285 738 286 689 Q 286 625 286 551 L 282 421 Z", "M 267 497 Q 218 359 54 148 Q 50 138 60 138 Q 66 137 74 145 Q 203 256 282 421 C 331 522 277 525 267 497 Z", "M 347 396 Q 395 336 419 333 Q 431 332 437 348 Q 438 360 430 377 Q 420 393 399 401 Q 365 417 351 419 Q 342 420 342 411 Q 341 404 347 396 Z", "M 541 560 Q 493 581 479 579 Q 461 575 476 556 Q 506 508 493 313 Q 486 262 463 203 Q 441 140 366 65 Q 353 53 350 47 Q 349 40 360 41 Q 399 44 457 113 Q 523 191 538 314 Q 548 390 548 505 Q 551 524 552 534 C 555 554 555 554 541 560 Z", "M 963 53 Q 994 63 982 96 Q 960 151 957 238 Q 956 263 950 267 Q 940 273 937 257 Q 913 131 887 111 Q 872 101 837 101 Q 753 101 713 167 Q 652 267 699 474 Q 718 541 756 575 Q 781 599 750 610 Q 734 617 697 627 Q 676 633 627 601 Q 578 576 541 560 C 514 548 523 526 552 534 Q 580 541 639 562 Q 651 568 657 564 Q 663 555 647 406 Q 611 148 754 59 Q 799 32 865 31 Q 914 32 963 53 Z"]
Meaning
“机” most commonly means “machine” or “device” (like 飞机 airplane, 手机 cellphone, 计算机 computer). It can also refer more abstractly to “opportunity” or “crucial moment” (like 机会 opportunity, 转机 a turning point).
Metadata
Locale: en
Cached At: 3/24/2026, 7:16:49 PM

Usage

The character **机 (jī)** basically conveys the idea of a **machine, device, or mechanism** and is extremely common in modern Chinese. On its own, it often means “machine” or “engine,” and appears in core everyday words like **手机** (mobile phone, literally “hand machine”), **飞机** (airplane, “flying machine”), **机器** (machine), and **机器⼈** (robot). Learners typically meet it early when talking about **technology, transportation, and electronic devices**, and they soon notice that 机 is a key building block for words related to modern equipment. Beyond “machine,” 机 also appears in many common **abstract or semi‑abstract compounds**, usually hinting at “chance, opportunity, or mechanism.” For example, **机会** (opportunity), **危机** (crisis), and **时机** (timing, right moment) are frequent in both spoken and written Chinese. In words like **机密** (secret/confidential), **机关** (government/organization/mechanism), or **手机号码** (mobile phone number), 机 helps give a sense of something structured, functional, or system‑like. As a standalone word in everyday speech, though, learners are most likely to meet it in **机票** (plane ticket), **机器**, and **手机** rather than using 机 alone.

Handwriting Notes

机 in handwriting usually looks compact and slightly rectangular, with the left “木” (wood) component narrower and the right “几” component a bit more open or curved. The left side often has a clear vertical emphasis: the main vertical stroke of 木 can be slightly slanted, and the lower part may be compressed to fit into the overall square shape. On the right, 几 often appears more rounded or hooked at the bottom in casual writing, sometimes resembling a curved “7” rather than the sharp, printed form. Handwritten forms can vary in how tightly the two parts are spaced and how straight or curved the strokes are. Some writers connect or almost connect strokes of 木, and the short stroke at the top of 几 may become very small or blend into the main vertical curve, especially in fast writing. Despite these variations, the key features that distinguish 机 are the wood radical on the left and the simplified, bent shape of 几 on the right. Modern AI handwriting recognition systems (such as those in smartphone input apps or tablet note tools) are trained to handle this natural variation in stroke shape, angle, and spacing, allowing them to correctly recognize 机 across many different personal handwriting styles.

Description

机 (jī) commonly means “machine,” “device,” or “opportunity,” depending on context. It appears in many compound words, such as 机会 (jīhuì, “opportunity”) and 飞机 (fēijī, “airplane”). It is a frequently used simplified character in modern Chinese.

Common Words

  • 飞机fēijīairplane
  • 手机shǒujīmobile phone; cell phone
  • 机会jīhuìopportunity; chance
  • 机器jīqìmachine
  • 手机号码shǒujī hàomǎmobile phone number
  • 机票jīpiàoairplane ticket; flight ticket
  • 司机sījīdriver (e.g., taxi/bus driver)
  • 机智jīzhìquick-witted; clever
  • 机器人成jīqìrénrobot
  • 机会主义jīhuì zhǔyìopportunism
  • 危机wēijīcrisis
  • 契机qìjīturning point; favorable opportunity
  • 机灵jīlingclever; smart; quick-witted
  • 手机店shǒujī diànmobile phone shop
  • 机房jīfángcomputer room; engine room; machine room
  • 机组jīzǔaircraft crew; generator set; machine unit
  • 机床jīchuángmachine tool
  • 机车jīchēlocomotive; (in Taiwan) motorcycle
  • 机舱jīcāngairplane cabin
  • 手机壳shǒujī képhone case
Try writing this character