pǎobùjī hé yǎlíng dōu shì qìxiè.

In Mandarin, 都 means all or both, depending on context.

So in:

跑步机和哑铃都是器械。

the subject is 跑步机和哑铃 = treadmills and dumbbells / a treadmill and a dumbbell, and 都 tells you that the statement applies to both of them.

A natural English gloss is:

• Treadmills and dumbbells are both equipment.

So even with just two items, 都 is completely normal.

都 usually comes after the whole subject and before the predicate.

So:

• 跑步机和哑铃 都 是 器械。

Structure:

• 跑步机和哑铃 = subject
• 都 = both/all
• 是器械 = are equipment

That is why 跑步机和哑铃都是器械 sounds right, but something like 跑步机和哑铃是都器械 is not correct.

A useful pattern is:

• A 和 B 都是 C = A and B are both C

Examples:

• 猫和狗都是动物。 = Cats and dogs are both animals.
• 中文和日文都很难。 = Chinese and Japanese are both difficult.

Yes, you can, and the sentence is still understandable.

But adding 都 makes the sentence sound more natural and explicit, because it emphasizes that the classification applies to each item in the list.

Compare:

• 跑步机和哑铃是器械。
  = Treadmills and dumbbells are equipment.
• 跑步机和哑铃都是器械。
  = Treadmills and dumbbells are both equipment.

In this kind of sentence, 都 is very common.

Because Mandarin verbs do not change form for singular or plural.

In English:

• is for singular
• are for plural

In Mandarin, 是 stays 是 no matter what the subject is.

So all of these use 是:

• 它是器械。 = It is equipment.
• 它们是器械。 = They are equipment.
• 跑步机和哑铃都是器械。 = Treadmills and dumbbells are both equipment.

Mandarin does not conjugate verbs the way English does.

Mandarin nouns usually do not change form for singular vs. plural.

So 器械 can mean:

• equipment
• pieces of equipment
• apparatus
• equipment in general

The number is usually understood from context.

Also, 器械 is often a kind of category noun, similar to equipment in English, which is usually uncountable. So it makes sense that it appears without a plural ending.

Not exactly.

器械

This usually means equipment, apparatus, or devices/tools, often in a practical or specialized setting, such as:

• 健身器械 = fitness equipment
• 医疗器械 = medical equipment

机器

This means machine.

So:

• 跑步机 can be called a 机器 in some contexts because it is a machine.
• 哑铃 is not usually called a 机器.
• But both can be grouped under 器械.

That is why 器械 works well in this sentence: it is a broader category that includes both items.

Yes, 跑步机 is treated as one word meaning treadmill.

It is made up of:

• 跑步 = to run / running
• 机 = machine

So literally it is something like:

• running machine

This kind of word-building is very common in Mandarin.

Other examples:

• 洗衣机 = washing machine
• 手机 = mobile phone
• 飞机 = airplane

Yes, although for learners it is usually best to memorize 哑铃 as a whole word meaning dumbbell.

The parts are:

• 哑 = mute / dumb
• 铃 = bell

Historically, the word comes from older forms and usage, but in modern Mandarin, learners should just treat 哑铃 as the standard word for dumbbell.

So the important thing is:

• 哑铃 = dumbbell

They are:

• 跑步机 = pǎobùjī
• 哑铃 = yǎlíng

A few pronunciation notes:

跑步机 — pǎobùjī

• 跑 = 3rd tone
• 步 = 4th tone
• 机 = 1st tone

哑铃 — yǎlíng

• 哑 = 3rd tone
• 铃 = 2nd tone

Common learner points:

• jī in 机 is not like English j in jam. It is a Mandarin sound made with the tongue more forward.
• líng should sound like ling with a rising tone.
• yǎ starts with a y sound, not a hard English j or z.

Yes. 和 is a very common way to connect nouns.

So:

• 跑步机和哑铃 = treadmill(s) and dumbbell(s)

It is especially natural when joining two nouns in a simple statement.

Other words can sometimes mean and too, depending on context, such as 跟 or 以及, but 和 is the most basic and learner-friendly choice here.

Sometimes yes, but not always in exactly the same way.

For a short list of two nouns, 和 is very natural:

• 跑步机和哑铃都是器械。

If you had a longer list, Mandarin often uses commas between earlier items and 和 before the last one, similar to English:

• 跑步机、哑铃和杠铃都是器械。

So for two items, using 和 is the simplest and most standard choice.

Because this sentence is making a general classification statement, not counting individual objects.

Measure words are needed when you specify a number or demonstrative:

• 一台跑步机 = one treadmill
• 一个哑铃 or 一对哑铃 = one dumbbell / one pair of dumbbells

But in:

• 跑步机和哑铃都是器械。

you are talking about the categories treadmills and dumbbells in general, so no measure word is needed.

Both are possible, but they are slightly different in specificity.

• 器械 = equipment / apparatus
• 健身器械 = fitness equipment / exercise equipment

If the context is clearly about a gym, 健身器械 may sound more precise:

• 跑步机和哑铃都是健身器械。

But 器械 still works if the lesson is focusing on the broader category equipment.

So the shorter sentence is grammatical and natural; it is just a little more general.

It can mean either one, depending on context.

Generic meaning

• Treadmills and dumbbells are both equipment.

Specific meaning

If you are pointing at items in a room, it could mean:

• The treadmill and the dumbbells are both equipment.

Mandarin often leaves this kind of distinction to context, whereas English usually makes it clearer with a/the or singular/plural marking.

So one Mandarin sentence can cover several English possibilities.

Yes, very similar.

Mandarin:

• 跑步机 和 哑铃 都 是 器械。

Literal structure:

• treadmill and dumbbell both are equipment

Natural English:

• Treadmills and dumbbells are both equipment.

So this is a nice beginner-friendly sentence because the word order is close to English, with the main new feature being the placement of 都.