Chinese word

空调

Pronunciation

Pinyinkōng tiáo

Meaning

  • nounair conditioner

Example

房间太热了，开一下空调吧。fáng jiān tài rè le kāi yí xià kōng tiáo ba

The room is too hot, so turn on the air conditioner.

Illustration for 空调 (air conditioner)

More examples

昨天晚上空调坏了，我们只好开电风扇。zuó tiān wǎn shàng kōng tiáo huài le wǒ men zhí hǎo kāi diàn fēng shàn

The air conditioner broke last night, so we had to turn on the electric fan.

Core concept

Equipment that makes indoor air suit the people in a space by changing its temperature and moisture.

Common phrases

  • 空调坏了kōng tiáo huài le

    Air conditioner stopped working

  • 修理空调xiū lǐ kōng tiáo

    repair an air conditioner

  • 安装空调ān zhuāng kōng tiáo

    install an air conditioner

Similar words

暖气nuǎn qì: Equipment or a system that warms an indoor space.
风扇fēng shàn: An electric appliance that moves air and sends a breeze around a room.

Definition in Chinese

用于调节室内空气温度和湿度的设备或系统，可指家用一体机或中央空调等大型设施。yòng yú tiáo jié shì nèi kōng qì wēn dù hé shī dù de shè bèi huò xì tǒng kě zhǐ jiā yòng yì tǐ jī huò zhōng yāng kōng tiáo děng dà xíng shè shī

Word origin

In 空调 (kōngtiáo, "air conditioning"), 空气调节 (kōngqì tiáojié, "air adjustment") is compressed into a shorter compound that names the whole air-control system.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, the noun naturally refers to equipment that can be switched on or off, rather than only to the general technology of climate control.

Other meanings

  • air conditioningnoun
  • air-conditioning systemnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 空调遥控器kōng tiáo yáo kòng qìair-conditioner remotenoun
  • 空调设备kōng tiáo shè bèiair-conditioning equipmentnoun

Word lists with this word