關 / 关
guān
The English phrase "turn off" can be translated into Chinese as 關 / 关 (guān). If unsure, use 關 / 关. Wiktionary also lists 關掉 / 关掉 (guāndiào).
Meaning: switch off appliance or light (verb)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 關 / 关 | guān |
| 關掉 / 关掉 | guāndiào |
The term is used to describe the action of switching off an appliance or a light. While 關 / 关 is a general term for closing or turning something off, 關掉 / 关掉 is specifically common when referring to turning off digital or electronic items like a computer, a phone or a television. For a more neutral and common way to say "turn off," you might also use 关闭 (guān bì). If you want to imply completely cutting off the power or disconnecting something, the term 切断 (qiē duàn) is used.
Which one should you use?
The form 關 / 关 can mean "to close" or "to turn off" and is often used for physical objects like doors or windows. In contrast, 關掉 / 关掉 is more specifically used for the action of turning off electronic devices or lights.
How do you pronounce it?
guān
Did you know?
- Beyond turning off lights, 關 / 关 is used in the term 關心 (guānxīn), which means 'to care for' or 'be concerned about'. In this context, it evokes the idea of focusing one's attention or 'closing in' on someone's needs.
- The character 關 / 关 originally depicted a door being secured with two wooden sticks. This ancient image of locking a physical barrier is the reason the word can now be used for switching off an electronic device.
- While 關 / 关 is used for electronics, Chinese uses a different word, 熄 (xī), to 'turn off' a candle or a fire. Using 關 / 关 for a candle would sound unnatural to a native speaker.
Examples in context
- 请关闭灯光。(Qǐng guānbì dēngguāng.)Please turn off the lights.
- 请切断电源。(Qǐng qiēduàn diànyuán.)Please turn off the power.
- 关掉电视。(Guān diào diànshì.)Turn off the TV.
- 別忘了關掉電腦。Bié wàngle guāndiào diànnǎo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “turn off” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 關, CC BY-SA 4.0.
