采棉机
cǎi mián jī
The English phrase 'cotton picker' can be translated into Chinese as 采棉机 (cǎi mián jī), though this specifically refers to a machine.
In Chinese, the term for a person who harvests cotton is typically expressed using words for a worker, such as 采棉工, 采棉工人, 拣棉工人 or 棉花采摘工人. While the English term 'cotton picker' can refer to either a human or a machine, the Chinese term 采棉机 is used exclusively for the mechanical device.
Meaning: someone who harvests cotton (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 采棉机 is a combination of three parts: 采 (cǎi) meaning 'to pick/gather', 棉 (mián) meaning 'cotton' and 机 (jī) meaning 'machine'.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on whether you are describing a machine or a person. Use 采棉机 to refer to a cotton picking machine. To refer to the person performing the labor, use 采棉工, 采棉工人, 拣棉工人 or the more descriptive 棉花采摘工人.
How do you pronounce it?
cǎi mián jī
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using 采棉机 when you want to refer to a human worker. In Chinese, this word specifically describes the mechanical harvester. Instead, use 采棉工 to refer to the person.
Did you know?
- The character 机 in 采棉机 is the same root used in 飞机 (fēijī), which literally translates to 'flying machine' for 'airplane'.
- While 采 is used in 采棉工 to mean 'harvesting', the same character is used in modern Chinese to describe selecting a favorite option from a menu or list.
- The character for 'cotton' 棉 is used in the word 棉被 (miánbèi) to describe a traditional thick quilted duvet.
Examples in context
- 他是一位棉花采摘工人，每年都在收获季节前后忙碌不停。He is a cotton harvesting worker and is constantly busy during the harvest season.
- 我的爷爷从小家里就是拔白毛的，他很擅长用手指轻轻一拨就能将棉花拨离棉铃。My grandfather has been a cotton picker since he was young. He is skilled at gently flicking the cotton away from the bolls with his fingers.
Example conversation
Junjie and Yuting are discussing farm equipment.
- 俊杰 Junjie你看那台采棉机吗？Nǐ kàn nà tái cǎimiánjī ma?Do you see that cotton picker?
- 雨婷 Yuting看到了，它看起来很先进。Kàn dào le, tā kàn qǐlái hěn xiānjìn.I see it, it looks very advanced.
- 俊杰 Junjie它能帮我们省很多时间。Tā néng bāng wǒmen shěng hěnduō shíjiān.It can save us a lot of time.
- 雨婷 Yuting没错，它是很好的投资。Méi cuò, tā shì hěn hǎo de tóuzī.That's true, it is a great investment.
