yáokòngqì: 遥控器 - Remote Control, Remote Controller

• Keywords: yáokòngqì, 遥控器, Chinese for remote control, TV remote in Chinese, remote controller, air conditioner remote, 遥控 (yáokòng), 遙控器 (traditional), controller in Chinese, learn Chinese vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn how to say “remote control” in Chinese with the essential word 遥控器 (yáokòngqì). This comprehensive guide covers its meaning, a simple character breakdown, and practical use in everyday situations like controlling a TV or air conditioner. Discover numerous example sentences and cultural nuances to master this must-know modern vocabulary term.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yáokòngqì
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A device used to operate another piece of equipment from a distance.
• In a Nutshell: 遥控器 (yáokòngqì) is the standard Chinese word for any “remote control.” It's a perfectly logical compound word that literally means “distant-control-device.” Whether you're changing the channel on the TV, adjusting the air conditioner, or flying a drone, this is the word you'll use. It's a fundamental piece of vocabulary for navigating modern life in China.

• 遥 (yáo): This character means “distant,” “far away,” or “remote.” It evokes the idea of something far off.
• 控 (kòng): This character means “to control” or “to command.” The hand radical (扌) on the left signifies an action performed with the hands, which is exactly how you use a remote.
• 器 (qì): This character means “device,” “instrument,” or “tool.” It's a common suffix for many types of equipment and machinery, such as 机器人 (jīqìrén - robot) or 乐器 (yuèqì - musical instrument).

When you put them together, the meaning is crystal clear: 遥 (distant) + 控 (control) + 器 (device) = A device for controlling something from a distance.

While 遥控器 is a modern technological term without deep ancient roots, its role in modern Chinese life is significant and reflects certain cultural norms. Unlike in some Western countries where central heating and air are standard, individual room air conditioners (空调, kōngtiáo) are ubiquitous in Chinese homes, offices, and hotels. Consequently, the 空调遥控器 (kōngtiáo yáokòngqì), or AC remote, is an object of daily importance. Friendly (and sometimes not-so-friendly) negotiations over the AC remote—who has it, what the temperature should be—are a common, relatable part of daily family and office life, just as the TV remote might be in the West. Furthermore, the rise of technology and smart homes in China means that a single smartphone (手机, shǒujī) can often act as a universal 遥控器 for dozens of devices, from lights and curtains to rice cookers. This reflects China's rapid adoption of mobile-centric technology and the “Internet of Things” (物联网, wùliánwǎng). The concept is the same as in the West, but the speed and scale of its integration into daily life are particularly notable in urban China.

The use of 遥控器 is straightforward and ubiquitous. It's a neutral term used in all levels of formality.

• In the Home: This is the most common context. You'll use it when talking about the remote for the television (电视, diànshì), air conditioner (空调, kōngtiáo), fan (风扇, fēngshàn), or stereo system. It's common to specify which remote you're talking about, e.g., 电视遥控器.
• Hobbies and Technology: The term extends to remote controls for toys like RC cars (遥控车, yáokòngchē) and, more recently, for drones (无人机, wúrénjī).
• Figurative Meaning: In more advanced usage, the verb form 遥控 (yáokòng) can be used figuratively to mean “to control from afar” or “to be a puppet master,” but the noun 遥控器 almost always refers to the physical device.

• Example 1:
  • 你看到遥控器了吗？我找不到了。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kàndào yáokòngqì le ma? Wǒ zhǎo bù dào le.
  • English: Have you seen the remote control? I can't find it.
  • Analysis: A very common, everyday question you'd ask at home. `找不到了 (zhǎo bù dào le)` is a useful pattern meaning “can't find it anymore.”
• Example 2:
  • 能把空调遥控器递给我吗？有点儿冷。
  • Pinyin: Néng bǎ kōngtiáo yáokòngqì dì gěi wǒ ma? Yǒudiǎnr lěng.
  • English: Can you pass me the AC remote? It's a little cold.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the `把 (bǎ)` structure to emphasize the action done to the object. Note the specific `空调遥控器` (AC remote).
• Example 3:
  • 这个遥控器没电了，需要换电池。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge yáokòngqì méi diàn le, xūyào huàn diànchí.
  • English: This remote control is out of power; it needs new batteries.
  • Analysis: `没电了 (méi diàn le)` literally means “has no electricity” and is the standard way to say something is out of batteries.
• Example 4:
  • 爸爸，电视遥控器在哪儿？我想看动画片。
  • Pinyin: Bàba, diànshì yáokòngqì zài nǎr? Wǒ xiǎng kàn dònghuàpiàn.
  • English: Dad, where is the TV remote? I want to watch cartoons.
  • Analysis: A typical sentence a child might say. `在哪儿 (zài nǎr)` is the colloquial way to ask “where is it?”
• Example 5:
  • 我的新无人机遥控器有很多功能。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de xīn wúrénjī yáokòngqì yǒu hěn duō gōngnéng.
  • English: My new drone's remote controller has a lot of functions.
  • Analysis: This shows the word's use in a modern tech/hobby context. `功能 (gōngnéng)` means “function” or “feature.”
• Example 6:
  • 遥控器上的按钮太多了，我不知道按哪个。
  • Pinyin: Yáokòngqì shàng de ànniǔ tài duō le, wǒ bù zhīdào àn nǎ ge.
  • English: There are too many buttons on the remote control, I don't know which one to press.
  • Analysis: `按钮 (ànniǔ)` is the word for “button.” This is a relatable complaint for complex remotes.
• Example 7:
  • 为什么这个遥控器不工作了？
  • Pinyin: Wèishénme zhè ge yáokòngqì bù gōngzuò le?
  • English: Why isn't this remote control working?
  • Analysis: `不工作了 (bù gōngzuò le)` is a common way to say a device has stopped working.
• Example 8:
  • 他给儿子买了一个遥控车作为生日礼物。
  • Pinyin: Tā gěi érzi mǎi le yí gè yáokòngchē zuòwéi shēngrì lǐwù.
  • English: He bought his son a remote control car as a birthday present.
  • Analysis: This example uses the related term `遥控车 (yáokòngchē)`. Although the full word 遥控器 isn't here, it demonstrates the `遥控` component in action.
• Example 9:
  • 你可以用手机APP当遥控器来控制电视。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kěyǐ yòng shǒujī APP dāng yáokòngqì lái kòngzhì diànshì.
  • English: You can use a phone app as a remote control to operate the TV.
  • Analysis: `当 (dāng)` here means “to serve as” or “to act as.” This reflects the modern reality of smart devices.
• Example 10:
  • 请不要让孩子们抢遥控器。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng búyào ràng háizimen qiǎng yáokòngqì.
  • English: Please don't let the children fight over the remote control.
  • Analysis: `抢 (qiǎng)` means “to snatch” or “fight over,” capturing a universal family scene perfectly.

• Mistake: Confusing the Noun `遥控器` with the Verb `遥控`.
  • 遥控器 (yáokòngqì) is the noun, the physical object.
  • 遥控 (yáokòng) is the verb (“to remote control”) or an adjective (“remote-controlled”).
  • Incorrect: 我用遥控换频道。(I use remote control to change the channel.) This is grammatically awkward.
  • Correct: 我用遥控器换频道。(I use the remote controller to change the channel.)
  • Correct: 这是一个遥控玩具。(This is a remote-controlled toy.) Here, `遥控` acts as an adjective.
• Nuance: Specificity is Common.
  • In English, we often just say “the remote” and the context makes it clear. While this is also fine in Chinese (遥控器), it's very natural and common to specify what kind of remote it is.
  • 电视遥控器 (diànshì yáokòngqì) - TV remote
  • 空调遥控器 (kōngtiáo yáokòngqì) - Air conditioner remote
  • Being specific sounds more natural to a native speaker.

• 遥控 (yáokòng) - The verb “to control remotely” or the adjective “remote-controlled.” This is the action that the `遥控器` performs.
• 控制 (kòngzhì) - A more general verb meaning “to control.” `遥控` is a specific type of `控制`.
• 空调 (kōngtiáo) - Air conditioner. One of the most common devices operated by a `遥控器` in China.
• 电视 (diànshì) - Television. Another primary device controlled by a `遥控器`.
• 电池 (diànchí) - Battery. The power source for most remote controls.
• 无人机 (wúrénjī) - Drone (lit. “no-person-machine”). A popular modern device that relies on a complex `遥控器`.
• 频道 (píndào) - Channel (TV or radio). What you change using the `电视遥控器`.
• 开关 (kāiguān) - Switch (on/off). `开 (kāi)` means “to open/turn on” and `关 (guān)` means “to close/turn off.” The most basic function of a remote.
• 按钮 (ànniǔ) - Button. The physical things you press on a `遥控器`.