(きかい)

きかい
noun
apparatus; instrument; equipment
1. apparatus; instrument; equipment
Tools, devices, or equipment used for specific purposes, especially in gymnastics, medicine, or scientific work. Distinguished from 機械(きかい) (machine) by emphasis on precision instruments and manual tools rather than powered machinery.
器械体操(きかいたいそう)(なら)っている。
I'm learning apparatus gymnastics.
手術(しゅじゅつ)使(つか)器械(きかい)厳重(げんじゅう)消毒(しょうどく)される。
The instruments used in surgery are rigorously sterilized.
実験室(じっけんしつ)には精密(せいみつ)器械(きかい)(おお)(なら)んでいる。
Many precision instruments are lined up in the laboratory.

USAGE:
器械(きかい) and 機械(きかい) are homophones with overlapping but distinct meanings. 器械(きかい) refers to tools, instruments, and apparatus — things that are typically simpler, often hand-operated, and used for specialized tasks (surgery, gymnastics, lab work). 機械(きかい) refers to machines — powered, mechanical devices.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 器械体操(きかいたいそう) (apparatus gymnastics)
  • 医療器械(いりょうきかい) (medical instruments)
  • 精密器械(せいみつきかい) (precision instruments)

SIMILAR WORDS:
機械(きかい) means machine or machinery (powered devices). 器具(きぐ) refers to smaller tools or utensils. 装置(そうち) refers to a system or device, often more complex.