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关掉 (guān diào) — to turn off, to shut off (a device, light, valve, etc.)

Definition

A separable verb meaning 'to turn off / shut off' a device, light, or switch. The complement 掉 adds a 'completely done' feel, more action-oriented than just 关, and pairs naturally with 电源 / 灯 / 手机.

verb
to turn offto shut off (a device, light, valve, etc.)

Examples

  • 关掉，。
    Qǐng guān diào shǒu jī, kǎo shì shí bù néng shǐ yòng.
    Please turn off your phone — you can't use it during the exam.
  • 关掉。
    Shuì jiào qián bié wàng le guān diào dēng.
    Don't forget to turn off the light before sleeping.
  • 关掉。
    Yòng wán diàn nǎo hòu yào guān diào diàn yuán.
    You should turn off the power after using the computer.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

关guānclose
掉diàofall off

关 means close and 掉 means fall off, so the action ends with something off.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 關; 关 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
門門méndoor
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢇅
𢇅𢇅關guān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 关, the traditional form 關 shows 門 as a door and 𢇅 as two wooden sticks locking it, with ring-like marks on top.

Open 关 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
卓
卓zhuó掉diào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

掉 is built from 扌 (a hand) and 卓, which gives the pronunciation.

Open 掉 →
Appears in
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