What kinds of things can be an 愛機?


大辞泉 gives the following definition for 愛機【あい.き】:

> 日ごろ好んで使い、大事にしている写真機などの機器。また、愛用の飛行機。

Meanwhile, the 大辞林 第三版 gives the following definition:

> 使い慣れて，大切にしている写真機などの機器。また，愛用の飛行機。

Also, 明鏡国語辞典 (thanks, @snailboat) has:

> 飛行機・カメラなど、大切に使っている機械。

All three of these definitions appear to focus on cameras and airplanes
(though they all do also have a など suggesting that other related things could
also be called 愛機).

My question: is 愛機 only used for these particular devices? Would it be alright
for me to call some other device (like a car or a computer or a razor) an 愛機,
or would that sound weird? (Basically, I'm wondering why these definitions
identify specific examples of devices rather than using a generic word like
機器.)




The short answer is "anything that can be described by a word containing 機{き}
and can justifiably be one's favourite".

As for airplanes, 飛行機 can be considered a type of 機, mostly because it's in
the name. Otherwise, 機 is now more often used for 機器 or 機械, machines/devices.

I think that, instead of カメラ・写真機, the definitions might as well have referred
to a smartphone, MP3-player, CD-player, walkman, or any other type of device,
which fits into the category of being something someone uses for fun.

As for usage, ノートパソコン, スマホ, アイホーン, ミシン, etc. could all be 愛機, because they're
all devices that can be used for pleasure.

A(n electric) razor is borderline and only valid, if your favourite thing in
the morning is shaving while singing along with the radio.

Cars don't qualify, because there's no common word XX機, which can be used to
describe a car. But, 自動 **車** is a word for car and you can use 愛車.




The short answer is "anything that can be described by a word containing 機{き}
and can justifiably be one's favourite".

As for airplanes, 飛行機 can be considered a type of 機, mostly because it's in
the name. Otherwise, 機 is now more often used for 機器 or 機械, machines/devices.

I think that, instead of カメラ・写真機, the definitions might as well have referred
to a smartphone, MP3-player, CD-player, walkman, or any other type of device,
which fits into the category of being something someone uses for fun.

As for usage, ノートパソコン, スマホ, アイホーン, ミシン, etc. could all be 愛機, because they're
all devices that can be used for pleasure.

A(n electric) razor is borderline and only valid, if your favourite thing in
the morning is shaving while singing along with the radio.

Cars don't qualify, because there's no common word XX機, which can be used to
describe a car. But, 自動 **車** is a word for car and you can use 愛車.

