機 means “machine, opportunity”

き · ki

Also: loom, mechanism, airplane

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

はた

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

キ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 4 · 16 strokes

The story

Wood (木) beside 幾 (how many): picture a wooden loom strung with countless threads, the machine 機 still names in 機織り, weaving. Now 機 flies as the 飛行機 and hums on every corner as a 自動販売機, a vending machine.

Used in 飛行機 (hikouki, airplane), 機械 (kikai, machine), and 機会 (kikai, opportunity)

More from At the Office

• 予 beforehand
• 件 matter
• 任 entrust
• 係 person in charge
• 局 bureau
• 職 job
• 役 role
• 備 prepare
• 席 seat
• 労 labor
• 号 number
• 具 tool

Learn 機 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.