〜機(き)

き
suffix
~ machine, ~ device
tool
1. machine, device, apparatus
A suffix meaning 'machine' or 'device' attached to words describing the function or type.
The washing machine broke down.
I buy tickets at the ticket machine.

Compounds

Similar words

〜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.