A rice cooker is called a 炊飯器 (すいはんき) and a vacuum cleaner usually 掃除機 (そうじき). An alternative way to write the latter is 掃除器. So why is rice cooker usually written with 器 and vacuum cleaner with 機?

25 Dec 2018

Featured answer

Japanese

The character 器 signifies a “container.”
The character 機 signifies a “machine.”

I would guess that for 炊飯器 the former character is applied because it’s a container to cook rice in although it’s also a machine. 器 is also used in words like 食器 (dishes and bowls).

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jibuntu

25 Dec 2018

Japanese

Because, both are machine.
Machine in Japanese is "機械".

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kazuyoshi1000

25 Dec 2018

Japanese

器 of 炊飯器 means "vessel", while 機 of 掃除機 is machine.

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Miya_Y

25 Dec 2018

Japanese

The character 器 signifies a “container.”
The character 機 signifies a “machine.”

I would guess that for 炊飯器 the former character is applied because it’s a container to cook rice in although it’s also a machine. 器 is also used in words like 食器 (dishes and bowls).

See a translation

4 likes 0 disagrees

A rice cooker is called a 炊飯器 (すいはんき) and a vacuum cleaner usually 掃除機 (そうじき). An alternative way to write the latter is 掃除器. So why is rice cooker usually written with 器 and vacuum cleaner with 機? See a translation

A rice cooker is called a 炊飯器 (すいはんき) and a vacuum cleaner usually 掃除機 (そうじき). An alternative way to write the latter is 掃除器. So why is rice cooker usually written with 器 and vacuum cleaner with 機?

See a translation