kōngtiáo: 空调 - Air Conditioner, Air Conditioning

• Keywords: kōngtiáo, 空调, 空調, air conditioner in Chinese, Chinese for air conditioning, turn on the AC in Mandarin, how to say AC in Chinese, Chinese climate control, China summer, AC sickness
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 空调 (kōngtiáo), which means “air conditioner” or “air conditioning.” This page breaks down the characters 空 (air) and 调 (adjust), explains the immense cultural importance of AC in modern China's hot summers, and provides over 10 practical example sentences. Discover how to talk about turning the AC on/off, adjusting the temperature, and even understand related concepts like “air conditioning sickness” (空调病).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): kōngtiáo
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: A device that cools or heats the air in an enclosed space; air conditioning.
• In a Nutshell: 空调 (kōngtiáo) is the universal Chinese word for an air conditioner. It's a very logical compound word, literally meaning “air adjuster.” In a country known for its sweltering summers and freezing winters, the 空调 is not just an appliance but a cornerstone of modern comfort in homes, offices, cars, and public transport.

• 空 (kōng): This character's primary meaning is “air” or “sky.” It can also mean “empty.” Here, it directly refers to the air in a room.
• 调 (tiáo): This character means “to adjust,” “to regulate,” or “to tune.” It's the same character used in words like “adjust temperature” (调温度) or “investigate” (调查).
• Together, 空调 (kōngtiáo) literally translates to “air-adjuster,” a perfect and straightforward description of what an air conditioning unit does.

The rise of the 空调 (kōngtiáo) in China is a powerful symbol of the country's economic development and rising living standards over the past three decades. For many, owning an air conditioner marked a significant step into a more comfortable, modern life. In contrast to the prevalence of central air systems in many American homes, the most common type of AC in China is the wall-mounted “split-unit” (分体式空调). This means each room often has its own unit and remote, leading to frequent family or roommate discussions (or arguments!) about the ideal temperature. The concept of “空调病” (kōngtiáo bìng), or “air-conditioning sickness,” is also much more prominent in China than in the West. This folk illness refers to a collection of symptoms like colds, headaches, and stiff joints, believed to be caused by spending too much time in an air-conditioned environment or by the drastic temperature difference between indoors and outdoors. Whether medically recognized or not, this belief influences behavior, such as a preference for setting the AC to a milder 26°C (79°F) or avoiding sitting directly in the cold airflow.

空调 (kōngtiáo) is a high-frequency noun used in everyday conversation. Its usage is typically very direct. The most common actions associated with it are turning it on, turning it off, and adjusting it.

• Turning On/Off: The verbs used are 开 (kāi) for “to open” or “turn on,” and 关 (guān) for “to close” or “turn off.”
  • `开空调 (kāi kōngtiáo)` - Turn on the AC.
  • `关空调 (guān kōngtiáo)` - Turn off the AC.
• Adjusting: The verb 调 (tiáo) is used for adjusting settings.
  • `把空调调高一点 (bǎ kōngtiáo tiáo gāo yīdiǎn)` - Turn the AC up a bit (make it warmer).
  • `把空调调低一点 (bǎ kōngtiáo tiáo dī yīdiǎn)` - Turn the AC down a bit (make it colder).
• Heating Function: Importantly, most 空调 units in China have a heating function (制热 - zhìrè) for winter. So, `开空调 (kāi kōngtiáo)` in December means turning on the heat, not the cold air.

• Example 1:
  • 太热了，我们开空调吧。
  • Pinyin: Tài rè le, wǒmen kāi kōngtiáo ba.
  • English: It's too hot, let's turn on the air conditioning.
  • Analysis: A simple and very common suggestion. `开 (kāi)` is the standard verb for turning on appliances.
• Example 2:
  • 你出门的时候，记得关空调。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ chūmén de shíhòu, jìdé guān kōngtiáo.
  • English: When you go out, remember to turn off the AC.
  • Analysis: `关 (guān)` is the direct opposite of `开 (kāi)`. This is a common reminder to save electricity.
• Example 3:
  • 我觉得有点儿冷，可以把空调的温度调高两度吗？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ juédé yǒudiǎnr lěng, kěyǐ bǎ kōngtiáo de wēndù tiáo gāo liǎng dù ma?
  • English: I feel a bit cold, can you turn the AC's temperature up by two degrees?
  • Analysis: This sentence shows how to make a polite request to adjust the temperature. `调高 (tiáo gāo)` means “adjust higher.”
• Example 4:
  • 我们办公室的空调好像坏了，一点都不制冷。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bàngōngshì de kōngtiáo hǎoxiàng huài le, yīdiǎn dōu bù zhìlěng.
  • English: It seems the air conditioner in our office is broken; it's not cooling at all.
  • Analysis: `坏了 (huài le)` is the standard way to say something is broken. `制冷 (zhìlěng)` specifically refers to the cooling function.
• Example 5:
  • 这个空调的遥控器在哪儿？
  • Pinyin: Zhège kōngtiáo de yáokòngqì zài nǎr?
  • English: Where is the remote for this air conditioner?
  • Analysis: A very practical question. The remote is `遥控器 (yáokòngqì)`.
• Example 6:
  • 夏天一直开空调，电费肯定很贵。
  • Pinyin: Xiàtiān yīzhí kāi kōngtiáo, diànfèi kěndìng hěn guì.
  • English: Running the air conditioner all summer, the electricity bill will definitely be expensive.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects a common concern associated with AC use. `电费 (diànfèi)` is “electricity bill.”
• Example 7:
  • 冬天太冷了，我得把空调打开制热。
  • Pinyin: Dōngtiān tài lěng le, wǒ děi bǎ kōngtiáo dǎkāi zhìrè.
  • English: It's too cold in the winter, I have to turn on the AC to heat.
  • Analysis: This highlights the dual function of many Chinese AC units. `制热 (zhìrè)` is the heating mode.
• Example 8:
  • 很多老人不喜欢吹空调，他们觉得容易生病。
  • Pinyin: Hěnduō lǎorén bù xǐhuān chuī kōngtiáo, tāmen juédé róngyì shēngbìng.
  • English: Many elderly people don't like being in air conditioning; they think it's easy to get sick.
  • Analysis: `吹 (chuī)` literally means “to blow.” Here, `吹空调` is a colloquial way to say “be in the flow of the AC” or “use the AC.” This reflects the cultural belief in “空调病”.
• Example 9:
  • 请问，你们酒店的每个房间都有独立的空调吗？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, nǐmen jiǔdiàn de měi gè fángjiān dōu yǒu dúlì de kōngtiáo ma?
  • English: Excuse me, does every room in your hotel have an independent air conditioner?
  • Analysis: A useful sentence for travelers. `独立 (dúlì)` means “independent,” referring to individual units rather than central air.
• Example 10:
  • 为了省电，国家建议把空调设置在26度以上。
  • Pinyin: Wèile shěng diàn, guójiā jiànyì bǎ kōngtiáo shèzhì zài èrshíliù dù yǐshàng.
  • English: To save electricity, the state recommends setting the air conditioning at 26 degrees or higher.
  • Analysis: This is a real-life public service announcement you might see in China. `设置 (shèzhì)` means “to set.”

• Mistake 1: Using “AC” in a Chinese sentence.
  • English speakers might be tempted to say `“我们可以开 AC 吗？”`. This is incorrect. While some English initialisms are used in Chinese (like “CEO” or “App”), “AC” is not one of them. Always use the full word, 空调 (kōngtiáo).
• Mistake 2: Assuming it only cools.
  • As mentioned, most 空调 units in China are heat pumps, meaning they can both cool (`制冷 zhìlěng`) and heat (`制热 zhìrè`). In English, “AC” almost exclusively implies cooling. In Chinese, 空调 is the name of the unit itself, which can perform both functions. So, hearing `开空调` in winter is perfectly normal.
• Nuance: `吹空调 (chuī kōngtiáo)` vs. `开空调 (kāi kōngtiáo)`.
  • `开空调` means “to turn on the AC.” It's an action.
  • `吹空调` means “to enjoy the AC” or “to be in the AC's airflow.” It describes a state of being. You can say: `我喜欢夏天在家吹空调 (Wǒ xǐhuān xiàtiān zàijiā chuī kōngtiáo)` - “I like to stay home and enjoy the AC in the summer.” You wouldn't say `…在家开空调` in this context, as that just means you like performing the action of turning it on.

• 电风扇 (diànfēngshàn) - Electric fan. The lower-cost, lower-energy alternative to an air conditioner.
• 暖气 (nuǎnqì) - Central heating (radiators). Common in Northern China, where 空调 is less relied upon for winter heating.
• 遥控器 (yáokòngqì) - Remote control. The essential tool for operating a 空调.
• 温度 (wēndù) - Temperature. The main setting you adjust on a 空调.
• 制冷 (zhìlěng) - To cool; the cooling function. A button you will see on the remote.
• 制热 (zhìrè) - To heat; the heating function. The other critical function on most units.
• 空调病 (kōngtiáo bìng) - “Air-conditioning sickness.” A culturally specific term for illnesses attributed to AC use.
• 省电 (shěng diàn) - To save electricity. A major consideration when using 空调.
• 变频 (biànpín) - Inverter (technology). A more energy-efficient type of AC is a `变频空调 (biànpín kōngtiáo)`.