关
guān
In Chinese, the word for 'off' (in the sense of being inoperative or disabled) is 关 (guān).
It is also used for closing physical things like doors or windows. To express the concept of turning off or closing more formally, you might use 关闭 (guānbì). If you are describing the interruption of a connection or a flow, the term 切断 (qiēduàn) is used to mean 'to cut off' or 'to disconnect'.
Meaning: inoperative, disabled (adj)
Which one should you use?
The term 关掉 (guāndiào) is a colloquial way to describe turning off switches, buttons or devices. For a simpler, informal way to say something is 'turned off' or 'shut down', you can use 关了 (guān le). The opposite of 关 is 开 (kāi), which means 'on' or 'to turn on'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the particle 了 (le) after 关 indicates the action of turning something off has been completed.
How do you pronounce it?
guān
Did you know?
- While 关 means 'off', the phrase 关心 (guānxīn) means 'to care about'. In this context, the word functions as 'to relate to' or 'to concern', rather than 'to shut'.
- The word 关 can also mean 'pass' or 'checkpoint' when used in different contexts. This relates to the idea of a gate that can be shut to control movement.
- The character 关 is also used in the word 关系 (guānxì), which means 'relationship' or 'connection'.
Examples in context
- 我把它关了。I turned it off.The sentence is useful for saying that something has been turned off using 关.Tatoeba #9963079 by GlossaMatik, translation #2570986 by Hybrid
- 你要我关灯吗？Do you want me to turn off the lights?This sentence is useful for asking if someone wants the lights turned off using 关.Tatoeba #9974938 by GlossaMatik, translation #2025819 by CK
- 上床睡觉之前请关灯。Please turn off the light before you go to bed.This sentence is useful for requesting that lights be turned off using 关.Tatoeba #1416273 by sadhen, translation #268915 by CK
- 44 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zihan and Zhiqiang are in a room with the air conditioner running.
- 梓涵 Zihan空调关了吗？Kōngtiáo guān le ma?Is the air conditioner off?
- 志强 Zhiqiang还没关，我这就去关。Hái méi guān, wǒ zhè jiù qù guān.Not yet, I'll go turn it off now.
- 梓涵 Zihan谢谢，志强。Xièxie, Zhìqiáng.Thanks, Zhiqiang.
- 志强 Zhiqiang好了，现在关了。Hǎo le, xiànzài guān le.Done, it's off now.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
