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March 24, 2026
飞机(飛機)fēijī(fei1ji1)
飞机 (fēijī) means 'airplane' in Mandarin. It refers specifically to the flying vehicle that transports people or goods through the air. Commonly used in travel contexts, it is a crucial term for discussions about transportation and aviation.
Frequency#645DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
Air travel is a significant part of modern Chinese culture, especially as domestic travel has increased in recent years. The term reflects the rapid growth of the aviation industry in China.
Memory Tip
Think of the character 飞 (fēi) as a bird soaring in the sky, and 机 (jī) as a machine. Together, they create an image of a mechanical bird—an airplane. The pronunciation 'fei' sounds like 'flee,' which can remind you of flying away.
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AI Study Notes for 飞机
Quick Contrast
飞机 (fēijī) vs 直升机 (zhíshēngjī): 选择飞机用于指代固定翼的航空器，而直升机则指旋翼航空器。
Memory Mnemonic
Think of the character 飞 (fēi) as a bird soaring in the sky, and 机 (jī) as a machine. Together, they create an image of a mechanical bird—an airplane. The pronunciation 'fei' sounds like 'flee,' which can remind you of flying away.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the tone; '飞机' uses the first tone for both syllables. It's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but remember to use the measure word '架' (jià) when counting airplanes (e.g., '一架飞机' for 'one airplane').
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 学生 (xuéshēng) should focus on recognizing and using this term in simple sentences related to travel. It can also be connected with other transportation words at this level, like '火车' (huǒchē, train) and '汽车' (qìchē, car).
Cultural Note
Air travel is a significant part of modern Chinese culture, especially as domestic travel has increased in recent years. The term reflects the rapid growth of the aviation industry in China.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '飞机' with '飞车' (fēichē), which means 'flying car.' Remember that '飞机' strictly refers to airplanes. Also, some may forget to use the correct measure word and say '一个飞机' instead of '一架飞机.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 飞机
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Grammar Patterns of 飞机
飞机 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
The engine note changed as the aircraft landed, taxied and halted.
Cultural Notes for 飞机
🏮Cultural insight
Air travel is a significant part of modern Chinese culture, especially as domestic travel has increased in recent years. The term reflects the rapid growth of the aviation industry in China.
Frequently Asked Questions about 飞机
You would say '我坐飞机' (wǒ zuò fēijī).
The measure word for airplane is '架' (jià). So you would say '一架飞机' (yī jià fēijī) for 'one airplane'.
No, '飞机' specifically refers to fixed-wing aircraft. For helicopters, you would use '直升机' (zhíshēngjī).
