机
jī
(bound form) machine; mechanism
surname Ji; (bound form) aircraft; (bound form) an opportunity; (bound form) crucial point; pivot; (bound form) quick-witted; flexible; (bound form) organic
wood (木) + small table (几) = the pivotal machine
A wooden loom or weaving frame was the original image — a pivotal mechanism where the right moment to pull the thread determines everything. From that crucial, timing-sensitive device, the word expanded outward to machines, aircraft, and quick-wittedness.
这台洗衣机坏了，需要修一下。
zhè tái xǐ yī jī huài le，xū yào xiū yī xià。
This washing machine is broken and needs to be repaired.
我们要抓住这个好时机，不能错过。
wǒ men yào zhuā zhù zhè ge hǎo shí jī，bù néng cuò guò。
We must seize this good opportunity and cannot miss it.
Words with 机
货机
huò jī
cargo plane
机械化
jī xiè huà
to mechanize
农业机械
nóng yè jī xiè
agricultural machinery
机翼
jī yì
wing (of an aircraft)
转机
zhuǎn jī
(to take) a turn for the better
复印机
fù yìn jī
photocopier
随机性
suí jī xìng
randomness
机舱
jī cāng
cabin of a plane
电动机
diàn dòng jī
electric motor
候机楼
hòu jī lóu
airport terminal
机体
jī tǐ
organism (biology)
机师
jī shī
(aviation) pilot