〜機(き)

〜機(き) is a productive suffix meaning "machine" or "device." It attaches to a word describing the machine's function to create compound nouns.

Common examples

• 洗濯機(せんたくき): washing machine
• 乾燥機(かんそうき): dryer
• 掃除機(そうじき): vacuum cleaner
• 券売機(けんばいき): ticket vending machine
• 自動販売機(じどうはんばいき): vending machine
• 複写機(ふくしゃき): copy machine
• 飛行機(ひこうき): airplane

CONTRAST WITH 〜器(き):
〜機(き) and 〜器(き) are both read き and both mean "device," but they differ in nuance:

• 〜機(き): larger machines with moving parts or complex mechanisms
• 〜器(き): smaller instruments, containers, or simple tools (食器(しょっき) tableware, 楽器(がっき) musical instrument)

Some words use 機(き) for the machine version and 器(き) for the simpler tool version.