xǐyījī: 洗衣机 - Washing Machine

• Keywords: xiyiji, 洗衣机, washing machine in Chinese, how to say washing machine in Chinese, laundry in Chinese, wash clothes, xǐyī, Chinese household appliances, home appliances in mandarin
• Summary: Learn everything about the Chinese word for washing machine, 洗衣机 (xǐyījī). This guide provides a complete breakdown of this essential vocabulary for daily life, including its characters, cultural context, and practical usage. With 10 example sentences and a list of related terms for doing laundry in Chinese, you'll master how to talk about this common household appliance. This is a must-know word for anyone living in, traveling to, or simply learning about modern China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xǐyījī
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: A machine for washing clothes; a washing machine.
• In a Nutshell: 洗衣机 (xǐyījī) is a highly logical and literal word, combining the concepts of “wash,” “clothes,” and “machine.” It is the standard, everyday term for a washing machine in Mandarin Chinese. As one of the most common household appliances, this is a fundamental vocabulary word for beginners and essential for navigating daily life in China.

• 洗 (xǐ): To wash. The left side is the “water” radical (氵), strongly indicating the character's meaning is related to water or liquid. The right side provides the pronunciation.
• 衣 (yī): Clothes, garment, or clothing. This character is a pictogram, originally resembling a collared robe from ancient times.
• 机 (jī): Machine, engine, or mechanism. This character is a common suffix for all kinds of mechanical or electronic devices, such as 手机 (shǒujī - mobile phone) and 飞机 (fēijī - airplane).

When combined, 洗 (xǐ) + 衣 (yī) + 机 (jī) literally translates to “wash-clothes-machine,” making it one of the easiest and most intuitive words for a beginner to learn and remember.

The 洗衣机 is more than just an appliance in China; it's a symbol of the country's rapid modernization over the last 40 years. While older generations grew up washing clothes by hand in basins or at a river, nearly every urban household today has a washing machine. A key cultural difference compared to the West (especially the US) is the “laundry room” concept and the role of the dryer.

• Placement: In China, it's very common for the washing machine to be located on an enclosed balcony (阳台, yángtái) or in the bathroom, rather than a dedicated laundry room.
• Drying Culture: Separate clothes dryers (干衣机, gānyījī) are relatively rare in Chinese homes. The vast majority of people hang their clothes to dry on the balcony, even in major cities like Shanghai and Beijing. This practice is rooted in a belief that sunshine naturally disinfects clothes and is more energy-efficient. Therefore, discussing the 洗衣机 often leads to conversations about 晾衣服 (liàng yīfu) - hanging clothes to dry.

The widespread adoption of the 洗衣机 reflects a significant shift in domestic life, freeing up time from manual labor and representing a key milestone of a modern, middle-class lifestyle.

洗衣机 (xǐyījī) is a neutral, everyday term used in all contexts, from casual conversation to product descriptions in a store.

• Daily Conversation: You'll use it when discussing chores, telling someone you're busy, or coordinating household tasks. For example, “I need to use the washing machine” (我要用一下洗衣机).
• Shopping: When buying an appliance, you will use this word. You might specify the type, like a front-loader (滚筒洗衣机, gǔntǒng xǐyījī) or a top-loader (波轮洗衣机, bōlún xǐyījī).
• Renting an Apartment: One of the key questions to ask a landlord is whether the apartment is equipped with a washing machine: “房子里有洗衣机吗?” (Fángzi lǐ yǒu xǐyījī ma?).
• Repairs and Instructions: You'll use this word when calling a repair service or reading the instruction manual for the appliance.

• Example 1:
  • 我家的洗衣机坏了，需要找人来修。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jiā de xǐyījī huài le, xūyào zhǎo rén lái xiū.
  • English: My family's washing machine is broken, I need to find someone to come and fix it.
  • Analysis: A very common and practical sentence. “坏了 (huài le)” is the standard way to say something is broken.
• Example 2:
  • 你把脏衣服都放进洗衣机里吧。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bǎ zāng yīfu dōu fàng jìn xǐyījī lǐ ba.
  • English: You should put all the dirty clothes into the washing machine.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the 把 (bǎ) construction, which is very common when talking about physically moving or doing something to an object.
• Example 3:
  • 这台洗衣机带烘干功能吗？
  • Pinyin: Zhè tái xǐyījī dài hōnggān gōngnéng ma?
  • English: Does this washing machine have a drying function?
  • Analysis: “台 (tái)” is the measure word for machines and appliances. “烘干功能 (hōnggān gōngnéng)” means “drying function.”
• Example 4:
  • 新买的洗衣机明天送到。
  • Pinyin: Xīn mǎi de xǐyījī míngtiān sòng dào.
  • English: The newly bought washing machine will be delivered tomorrow.
  • Analysis: A simple sentence demonstrating how 洗衣机 acts as the subject.
• Example 5:
  • 洗衣机正在运行，请不要打开盖子。
  • Pinyin: Xǐyījī zhèngzài yùnxíng, qǐng búyào dǎkāi gàizi.
  • English: The washing machine is currently running, please do not open the lid.
  • Analysis: “正在运行 (zhèngzài yùnxíng)” is a more formal way of saying “is running,” often seen on signs or in manuals.
• Example 6:
  • 为了省电，我们晚上才用洗衣机。
  • Pinyin: Wèile shěng diàn, wǒmen wǎnshang cái yòng xǐyījī.
  • English: To save electricity, we only use the washing machine at night.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows cause and effect using “为了 (wèile)…” which means “in order to…”.
• Example 7:
  • 公寓里有公用的洗衣机吗？
  • Pinyin: Gōngyù lǐ yǒu gōngyòng de xǐyījī ma?
  • English: Is there a communal washing machine in the apartment building?
  • Analysis: “公用 (gōngyòng)” means “for public use” or “communal,” a useful word for dorms or apartment complexes.
• Example 8:
  • 我不确定这件毛衣能不能用洗衣机洗。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bú quèdìng zhè jiàn máoyī néng bu néng yòng xǐyījī xǐ.
  • English: I'm not sure if this sweater can be washed in the washing machine.
  • Analysis: This shows the structure “用 (yòng) + [tool] + [verb],” meaning “to use [tool] to do [action].”
• Example 9:
  • 这台洗衣机的声音有点大。
  • Pinyin: Zhè tái xǐyījī de shēngyīn yǒudiǎn dà.
  • English: This washing machine's sound is a bit loud.
  • Analysis: “有点 (yǒudiǎn)” is a key phrase for expressing “a little bit” in a negative or complaining context.
• Example 10:
  • 洗衣机洗完以后，记得把衣服晾起来。
  • Pinyin: Xǐyījī xǐ wán yǐhòu, jìde bǎ yīfu liàng qǐlái.
  • English: After the washing machine has finished washing, remember to hang the clothes up to dry.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the typical laundry process in China, connecting the machine wash with the action of hanging clothes (晾, liàng).

• Noun vs. Verb: The most common mistake for beginners is confusing the noun 洗衣机 (xǐyījī - the machine) with the verb-object phrase 洗衣服 (xǐ yīfu - to wash clothes).
  • Incorrect: 我要去洗衣机。(Wǒ yào qù xǐyījī.) - “I am going to washing machine.” (Grammatically incorrect).
  • Correct: 我要去洗衣服。(Wǒ yào qù xǐ yīfu.) - “I am going to do the laundry.”
  • Correct: 我要去用洗衣机。(Wǒ yào qù yòng xǐyījī.) - “I am going to use the washing machine.”
• Measure Words: The correct measure word for a washing machine is 台 (tái). While using the generic 个 (ge) will be understood, using 台 sounds more natural.
  • Natural: 一台洗衣机 (yì tái xǐyījī)
  • Acceptable but less natural: 一个洗衣机 (yí ge xǐyījī)

• 洗衣服 (xǐ yīfu) - (Verb phrase) The action of washing clothes. This is what you do with a 洗衣机.
• 干衣机 (gānyījī) - (Noun) Clothes dryer. The logical, though less common, counterpart to a washing machine in China.
• 洗衣液 (xǐyīyè) - (Noun) Liquid laundry detergent.
• 洗衣粉 (xǐyīfěn) - (Noun) Laundry powder.
• 晾衣服 (liàng yīfu) - (Verb phrase) To hang clothes up to dry, a very common practice in China.
• 阳台 (yángtái) - (Noun) Balcony. The place where washing machines are often kept and clothes are dried.
• 家务 (jiāwù) - (Noun) Housework, chores. The general category this activity belongs to.
• 电器 (diànqì) - (Noun) Electrical appliance(s). The broader category of items that includes 洗衣机.
• 滚筒洗衣机 (gǔntǒng xǐyījī) - (Noun) Front-loading washing machine (lit. “rolling drum washing machine”).
• 波轮洗衣机 (bōlún xǐyījī) - (Noun) Top-loading washing machine (lit. “pulsator wheel washing machine”).