Chinese word

空气

Pronunciation

Pinyinkōng qì

Meaning

  • nounair

Example

这里的空气很新鲜。zhè lǐ de kōng qì hěn xīn xiān

The air here is very fresh.

Illustration for 空气 (air)

More examples

请把窗户打开，换空气。qǐng bǎ chuāng hù dǎ kāi huàn kōng qì

Please open the window to air out the room.

Core concept

The invisible mixture of gases filling a place, with its condition affecting how healthy or stuffy the place feels.

Common phrases

  • 新鲜的空气xīn xiān de kōng qì

    fresh air

  • 换空气huàn kōng qì

    air out

  • 呼吸空气hū xī kōng qì

    breathe air

Similar words

气氛qì fēn: The mood of a place as shown by people's words, actions, and behavior.
氛围fēn wéi: The general feeling of a place shaped by its setting, decorations, and social relationships.

Definition in Chinese

围绕地球或房间的看不见的无色无味的气体混合物，也可指某处的空气质量或气息。wéi rào dì qiú huò fáng jiān de kàn bú jiàn de wú sè wú wèi de qì tǐ hùn hé wù yě kě zhǐ mǒu chù de kōng qì zhì liàng huò qì xī

Word origin

空 (kōng, "empty/space") + 气 (qì, "air/breath") names the gas that fills open space.

Usage tips

  • A level tone on kōng helps distinguish this word from expressions where the same syllable is pronounced kòng and means free or available.

Other meanings

  • atmospherenoun

Word lists with this word