Chinese word

相机

Pronunciation

Pinyinxiàng jī

Meaning

  • nouncamera

Example

我昨天买了一台相机。wǒ zuó tiān mǎi le yì tái xiàng jī

I bought a camera yesterday.

Illustration for 相机 (camera)

More examples

他拿着相机在街上拍照。tā ná zhe xiàng jī zài jiē shàng pāi zhào

He is holding a camera and taking pictures on the street.

Core concept

A device uses a lens to turn light from a scene into a saved still image or video.

Common phrases

  • 买一台相机mǎi yì tái xiàng jī

    buy a camera

  • 拿着相机ná zhe xiàng jī

    hold a camera

  • 用相机拍照yòng xiàng jī pāi zhào

    use a camera to take pictures

Similar words

照相机zhào xiàng jī: A camera designed for taking photographs, usually as a separate device.
手机shǒu jī: A handheld mobile phone for calls and messages that can also take photos or videos.

Definition in Chinese

用于拍摄静态照片或录像的设备，通常由镜头、快门和感光元件等部件组成。yòng yú pāi shè jìng tài zhào piān huò lù xiàng de shè bèi tōng cháng yóu jìng tóu kuài mén hé gǎn guāng yuán jiàn děng bù jiàn zǔ chéng

Word origin

相机 (xiàngjī, "camera") is shortened from 照相机 (zhàoxiàngjī, "photographic machine"); 相 (xiàng, "image") + 机 (jī, "machine") describes a machine that makes images.

Usage tips

  • In Chinese, a camera can be a separate device or the camera built into a phone, so nearby words show which kind is meant.

Other meanings

  • digital cameranoun

Related words

  • 数码相机shù mǎ xiàng jīdigital cameranoun
  • 单反相机dān fǎn xiàng jīsingle-lens reflex cameranoun

Word lists with this word