开灯
kāi dēng
To turn on the light in Chinese is 开灯 (kāi dēng).
The phrase is used to describe the action of activating a light fixture so that it provides illumination.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of two parts: 开 (kāi), which means 'to open' or 'to turn on' (often used for electronic devices or lights) and 灯 (dēng), which means 'light' or 'lamp'.
Which one should you use?
The opposite of 开灯 is 关灯 (guān dēng), which means 'to turn off the light'.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can use the '把' (bǎ) construction to expand the phrase. For example, using 把灯打开 (bǎ dēng dǎ kāi) emphasizes the specific action of opening or activating the light.
How do you pronounce it?
kāi dēng
Did you know?
- The word 灯 (dēng) is used in the phrase for 'red light district', 红灯区 (hóng dēng qū), where the 'light' refers to the neon signs and lanterns of the area.
- In Chinese, the act of 'turning on' the light 开灯 uses the same verb used for 'starting' a car or 'opening' a business for the day.
- In Chinese, the word for 'light' or 'lamp', 灯 (dēng), is the same word used for a 'lantern'. This means the same phrase used for your modern LED bulb could have been used centuries ago for a candle or a paper lantern.
Examples in context
- 请把卧室的灯打开。Please turn on the bedroom light.
- 请帮我开灯。Please help me turn on the light.
- 请开灯。Please turn on the light.
- 房间里太暗了，开灯吧。Fángjiān lǐ tài àn le, kāidēng ba.It's too dark in the room, let's turn on the light.
Example conversation
Yuting and Zhiqiang are entering a dark room.
- 志强 Zhiqiang这里太黑了。Zhèlǐ tài hēi le.It is too dark in here.
- 雨婷 Yuting我现在开灯。Wǒ xiànzài kāidēng.I will turn on the light now.
- 志强 Zhiqiang谢谢你，雨婷。Xièxiè nǐ, Yǔtíng.Thank you, Yuting.
- 雨婷 Yuting不客气，志强。Bù kèqì, Zhìqiáng.You're welcome, Zhiqiang.
