冷氣 / 冷气
laang⁵ hei³
The English phrase 'air conditioner' is translated into Cantonese as 冷氣 / 冷气 (laang⁵ hei³). If unsure, use 冷氣 / 冷气. Wiktionary also lists 冷氣機 / 冷气机 (laang⁵ hei³ gei¹).
Meaning: a machine that is used to control temperature and humidity in an enclosed space (noun)
Ways to say it
| Cantonese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 冷氣 / 冷气 | laang⁵ hei³ |
| 冷氣機 / 冷气机 | laang⁵ hei³ gei¹ |
The term refers to a machine used to control the temperature and humidity in an enclosed space.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 冷氣 literally means 'cold air'.
Which one should you use?
In daily conversation, people often use the shortened form 冷氣 to refer to the air conditioning system itself. For more precision when referring specifically to the physical machine or unit, use 冷氣機 / 冷气机. Additionally, the term 空調 is a formal way to say air conditioning.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'to turn on the air conditioner', you use the verb 開 (open/turn on) followed by 冷氣, resulting in 開冷氣. To say 'to turn off the air conditioner', use the verb 熄 (extinguish/turn off) followed by 冷氣, resulting in 熄冷氣.
How do you pronounce it?
laang⁵ hei³
Did you know?
- When Cantonese speakers complain about 'air conditioning sickness', they use the term 冷氣病. This refers to a specific set of symptoms like headaches or runny noses caused by spending too much time in chilled offices.
- The character 氣 in 冷氣 can also mean 'spirit' or 'energy'. In different contexts, the same word used for 'air' describes a person's internal vitality or mood.
- The verb used to turn off the air conditioner, 熄, literally means 'to extinguish'. This is the same word used for putting out a fire or a candle.
Example sentences for Cantonese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “air conditioner” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
