HSK Level 3

空调

kōng tiáo

air-conditioning

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Example Sentences

我打开空调,因为天气很热。

wǒ dǎkāi kōngtiáo, yīnwèi tiānqì hěn rè.

I turn on the air conditioner because the weather is very hot.

空调坏了,我需要修理它。

kōngtiáo huàile, wǒ xūyào xiūlǐ tā.

The air conditioner is broken, I need to fix it.

空调的温度太低了,我需要把它调高一点。

kōngtiáo de wēndù tài dīle, wǒ xūyào bǎ tā tiáo gāo yīdiǎn.

The temperature of the air conditioner is too low, I need to turn it up a bit.

Synonyms

冷气 (lěng qì)

air conditioning

空调器 (kōng tiáo qì)

air conditioner

Antonyms

暖气 (nuǎnqì)

heater

风扇 (fēngshàn)

fan

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 空调 (kōngtiáo) for "air conditioner" is a compound of two characters: 空 (kōng) meaning "empty" or "void" and 调 (tiáo) meaning "to adjust" or "to regulate". Together, they literally mean "to adjust the emptiness" or "to regulate the void", referring to the function of an air conditioner to control the temperature and humidity of a space.The term 空调 first appeared in Chinese in the early 20th century, when air conditioning technology was introduced to China from the West. It quickly became the standard term for air conditioners and is still widely used today.In addition to its literal meaning, the word 空调 also carries a sense of comfort and luxury. In modern Chinese culture, air conditioning is seen as a necessity for a comfortable living environment, and it is often associated with wealth and status.