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关掉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
关掉guāndiàoto switch offHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #2047, Very Hard
关掉guāndiàoto shut offHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #2047, Very Hard
guāndiào(guan1diao4)guan diao T1
  1. 1to switch off
  2. 2to shut off
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March 24, 2026

关掉(關掉)guāndiào(guan1diao4)

关掉 (guān diào) means 'to switch off' or 'to shut off' something, typically a device or an appliance. It is commonly used in everyday contexts, such as turning off lights, electronics, or machines. The phrase conveys an action of completely stopping the operation of an item.

Strokes17Frequency#2047DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese homes, it is a common practice to remind others to 关掉 the lights when leaving a room, reflecting a cultural emphasis on energy conservation. This habit is increasingly relevant in discussions about environmental responsibility.

Memory tip

Think of '关' (guan1) as a door closing and '掉' (diao4) as something falling away. Imagine you are closing a door and letting go of a light switch, picturing the light 'falling away' as it goes off. Together, they illustrate the action of turning something off.

Meanings of 关掉

guāndiào(guan1diao4)
1to switch off
2to shut off
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About 关掉

关掉Simplified
關掉Traditional
17Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 关掉

Quick Contrast

关上 (guān shàng) means 'to close' and is used for shutting something like a door or window, while 关掉 (guān diào) specifically refers to turning off devices or appliances.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 关掉 with 关上 (guān shàng), which means 'to close' (like a door). 关掉 is more commonly used for electrical devices. It’s informal but widely accepted in conversational Mandarin.

HSK Study Tips

Although 关掉 itself is not in the HSK vocabulary list, it consists of two simple characters that appear at lower levels (关 at HSK 1 and 掉 at HSK 3). Focus on the use of verbs with direction, as this phrase combines action with completion.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 关掉 with 关上, mistakenly using 关掉 to mean 'close' in the context of doors. For example, saying '我关掉门' (wǒ guān diào mén) is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我关上门' (wǒ guān shàng mén).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 关掉

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Component characters

关guānto close
HSK 36 strokes丷
View full entry
掉diàoto fall
HSK 411 strokes扌
View full entry

How to say to switch off in Chinese

“to switch off” in Chinese is关掉guāndiào

关掉 (guān diào) means 'to switch off' or 'to shut off' something, typically a device or an appliance. It is commonly used in everyday contexts, such as turning off lights, electronics, or machines. The phrase conveys an action of completely stopping the operation of an item.

When to use 关掉

Be careful not to confuse 关掉 with 关上 (guān shàng), which means 'to close' (like a door). 关掉 is more commonly used for electrical devices. It’s informal but widely accepted in conversational Mandarin.

关掉 or something close to it

关上 (guān shàng) means 'to close' and is used for shutting something like a door or window, while 关掉 (guān diào) specifically refers to turning off devices or appliances.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 关掉 with 关上, mistakenly using 关掉 to mean 'close' in the context of doors. For example, saying '我关掉门' (wǒ guān diào mén) is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我关上门' (wǒ guān shàng mén).

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掉

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Frequently asked questions about 关掉

While 关掉 is primarily used for devices, it can also be used metaphorically for stopping an activity or process.

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