gwaan1 dang1關燈关灯
Jyutpinggwaan1 dang1
Yalegwāan dāng
Definition
To switch off a light.
colloquialhomedaily actions
How it's used
While 關燈 is perfectly understood, native speakers often prefer using 熄燈 to describe turning off a light. The verb 熄 specifically conveys the action of extinguishing a flame or light, making it feel more natural in everyday domestic settings.
Examples
Remember to switch off the lights before you leave.
Related words
Common phrases
remember to switch off the light
help me switch off the light
Common mistake
Learners often use 關 for everything, but 熄 is the standard choice for lights and fires. Using 關 is not grammatically wrong, but it sounds slightly more formal or mechanical than the more common 熄.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
