hoi1 dang1開燈开灯
Jyutpinghoi1 dang1
Yalehōi dāng
Definition
To turn on the light; to switch on a lamp.
colloquialhomedaily actions
How it's used
Refers specifically to the action of activating an electric light switch. It is a compound verb where the object 燈 is often treated as part of the verb phrase, meaning you can insert aspect markers like 咗 directly after 開.
Examples
The room is so dark, hurry up and turn on the light.
Why did you go in without turning on the light?
Related words
Common phrases
turn on the light to read
Common mistake
Do not use it to mean 'to light a fire' or 'to ignite', for which you would use 點火 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
