挖土機 / 挖土机
wātǔjī
The English word "excavator" is translated into Chinese as 挖土機 / 挖土机 (wātǔjī). Wiktionary also lists 掘土機 / 掘土机 (juétǔjī) and 挖掘機 / 挖掘机 (wājuéjī).
Meaning: vehicle (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 挖土機 / 挖土机 | wātǔjī |
| 掘土機 / 掘土机 | juétǔjī |
| 挖掘機 / 挖掘机 | wājuéjī |
| 怪手 | guàishǒu |
What does it mean word for word?
The term 挖土機 / 挖土机 is composed of 挖 (to dig), 土 (earth/soil) and 機 (machine). The term 挖掘機 / 挖掘机 is composed of 挖掘 (to excavate/dig) and 機 (machine).
Which one should you use?
挖掘機 / 挖掘机 is the more formal and technical term for an excavator. In contrast, 挖土機 / 挖土机 is a more colloquial way to refer to the machine.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, the term 怪手 is commonly used to refer to an excavator.
How do you pronounce it?
wātǔjī
Did you know?
- The Taiwanese term 怪手 literally translates to 'strange hand' or 'weird hand'. This refers to the mechanical arm's appearance as a prosthetic or supernatural limb.
- While 挖掘機 is the standard technical term, the word 挖掘 can also be used metaphorically in Chinese to describe 'digging' into a person's past or uncovering hidden secrets.
- If you use the term 怪手 in mainland China, people may be confused or think you are talking about a 'strange hand' rather than construction equipment.
Examples in context
- 我在工地上看到一台挖掘机。I saw an excavator at the construction site.
- 哥哥正在使用挖机挖掘地基。My older brother is using an excavator to dig the foundation.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “excavator” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
