关灯
guān dēng
To turn off the light in Chinese is 关灯 (guān dēng).
The phrase is used to describe the act of stopping a lamp or light fixture from shining by using a switch. You can make a request more polite by adding the particle 请 (qǐng) at the beginning of your sentence.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb 关 (guān) literally means to close or shut, and is used for turning off electronic devices or appliances, while the noun 灯 (dēng) refers to a light, lamp or any lighting fixture.
How does it change in a sentence?
To indicate the action of turning off the light has been completed, you can add the particle 了 (le) after the verb to get 关了灯.
How do you pronounce it?
guān dēng
Did you know?
- In some contexts, 关灯 can be a euphemism for the start of sexual intimacy, similar to the English phrase 'turn out the lights'.
- In Chinese, you can use 关 to 'turn off' things that don't have switches, like a faucet or a gas valve, treating the flow of water or gas the same as the flow of electricity.
- The verb 关 (guān) used in 关灯 is also used to describe closing a door or a window. In Chinese, there is no distinction between 'closing' a physical barrier and 'turning off' a switch.
Examples in context
- 上床睡觉之前请关灯。Please turn off the light before you go to bed.This sentence is useful for practicing a polite request to turn off the light using 关灯.Tatoeba #1416273 by sadhen, translation #268915 by CK
- 你忘了关灯。You forgot to turn off the light.This sentence is useful for noting that someone forgot to 关灯.Tatoeba #2050777 by fercheung, translation #1823855 by Amastan
- 我没有关灯。I didn't turn off the light.This sentence is useful for stating that you did not 关灯.Tatoeba #9415420 by BobbyLee, translation #261908 by CK
- 请熄灯。Please turn off the light.
- 关灯吧。Turn off the light.
- 快关灯！Quickly turn off the light!
- 请你关灯。Could you please turn off the light?
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
In the living room before going to bed.
- 浩然 Haoran雨婷，别忘了关灯。Yǔ tíng, bié wàng le guān dēng.Yuting, don't forget to turn off the light.
- 雨婷 Yuting我知道了，浩然。Wǒ zhī dào le, hào rán.I know, Haoran.
- 浩然 Haoran那是客厅的灯。Nà shì kè tīng de dēng.That is the living room light.
- 雨婷 Yuting我现在就去关灯。Wǒ xiàn zài jiù qù guān dēng.I will go turn off the light right now.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
