guāndiào: 关掉 - To Turn Off, Switch Off, Shut Down

• Keywords: guandiao, 关掉, turn off Chinese, switch off in Chinese, how to say turn off in Mandarin, guān diào, shut down, close, Chinese verb for electronics, HSK 3 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 关掉 (guāndiào), meaning “to turn off” or “shut down.” This comprehensive guide explains its meaning, character breakdown, and practical use for switching off lights, computers, and phones. With 10+ example sentences and clear analysis, this page helps beginner Mandarin learners master 关掉 and avoid common mistakes, like confusing it with simply closing a door.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): guāndiào
• Part of Speech: Verb Phrase (Verb + Resultative Complement)
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: To turn off, switch off, or shut down a device, light, or operation.
• In a Nutshell: 关掉 (guāndiào) is the most common and versatile way to say “turn off” in Mandarin Chinese. It combines the action of “closing” or “shutting” (关) with a resultative complement (掉), which confirms the action has been completed successfully. Think of it as the direct equivalent of “switch off” for any device that uses power, from your phone to the kitchen lights.

• 关 (guān): This character's primary meaning is “to close” or “to shut.” Picture the character for door, 门 (mén), with a bar across it. It represents the action of closing something, which by extension means cutting off a flow, like electricity.
• 掉 (diào): This character means “to fall” or “to drop.” In 关掉, it functions as a resultative complement. It doesn't mean something is literally falling; instead, it indicates that the action of 关 (guān) has been successfully completed, resulting in a new state (the “off” state). It adds a sense of finality and completion.

Together, 关掉 (guāndiào) literally means “to shut to completion,” which perfectly captures the idea of turning something completely off.

While 关掉 (guāndiào) is a modern, functional term, its structure reveals a key aspect of the Chinese language: a focus on results. The addition of 掉 (diào) isn't just for flair; it explicitly confirms the outcome. In English, “turn off the light” is a command. The Chinese phrase 把灯关掉 (bǎ dēng guāndiào)—“take the light and turn it off”—emphasizes not just the action but the successful result. This focus on outcome is common in Chinese verbs. A related cultural practice is 随手关灯 (suíshǒu guān dēng), meaning “turn off lights as you go.” This value of not wasting electricity is taught from a young age in China and is a common sign you'll see in offices and public buildings. While this phrase often uses the shorter 关 (guān), the full action implied is 关掉.

关掉 (guāndiào) is a high-frequency, neutral term used in virtually all informal and formal situations.

• Daily Life (Electronics): This is its most common use. You use it for any device with a power switch.
• 关掉灯 (guāndiào dēng) - Turn off the light
• 关掉电脑 (guāndiào diànnǎo) - Shut down the computer
• 关掉手机 (guāndiào shǒujī) - Turn off the cellphone
• 关掉空调 (guāndiào kōngtiáo) - Turn off the air conditioner
• Digital Interfaces: It's also used for software and digital functions.
• 关掉这个窗口 (guāndiào zhège chuāngkǒu) - Close this window (on a computer)
• 关掉通知 (guāndiào tōngzhī) - Turn off notifications
• Metaphorical Usage: Less common, but it can be used for shutting down an operation.
• 老板决定关掉那个不赚钱的部门。(Lǎobǎn juédìng guāndiào nàge bù zhuànqián de bùmén.) - The boss decided to shut down that unprofitable department.

• Example 1:
  • 出门前，请记得关掉所有的灯。
  • Pinyin: Chūmén qián, qǐng jìdé guāndiào suǒyǒu de dēng.
  • English: Before you go out, please remember to turn off all the lights.
  • Analysis: A common and practical reminder. The use of 关掉 is clear and direct.
• Example 2:
  • 我的手机没电了，自动关掉了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de shǒujī méi diàn le, zìdòng guāndiào le.
  • English: My phone ran out of battery and switched off automatically.
  • Analysis: Here, 关掉 describes an event that happened, not a command. The 了 (le) indicates a completed action.
• Example 3:
  • 你能不能帮我把电视关掉？太吵了。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bùnéng bāng wǒ bǎ diànshì guāndiào? Tài chǎo le.
  • English: Can you help me turn off the TV? It's too noisy.
  • Analysis: This example uses the common 把 (bǎ) structure to bring the object (电视) before the verb (关掉). This is a very natural way to phrase a request.
• Example 4:
  • 会议结束了，我们把投影仪关掉吧。
  • Pinyin: Huìyì jiéshù le, wǒmen bǎ tóuyǐngyí guāndiào ba.
  • English: The meeting is over, let's turn off the projector.
  • Analysis: A suggestion made in a professional but everyday context. The 吧 (ba) softens the suggestion.
• Example 5:
  • 他忘了关掉电脑就回家了。
  • Pinyin: Tā wàng le guāndiào diànnǎo jiù huí jiā le.
  • English: He forgot to shut down the computer and went home.
  • Analysis: A simple narrative sentence describing a past oversight.
• Example 6:
  • 这个软件的广告太多了，我想把它关掉。
  • Pinyin: Zhège ruǎnjiàn de guǎnggào tài duō le, wǒ xiǎng bǎ tā guāndiào.
  • English: This software has too many ads, I want to close them.
  • Analysis: Here, 关掉 refers to closing a digital element (an ad) rather than a physical device.
• Example 7:
  • 为了省电，不看的时候最好把显示器关掉。
  • Pinyin: Wèile shěng diàn, bù kàn de shíhòu zuìhǎo bǎ xiǎnshìqì guāndiào.
  • English: To save electricity, it's best to turn off the monitor when you're not looking at it.
  • Analysis: This sentence gives a reason (为了省电 - to save electricity) for the action.
• Example 8:
  • 你为什么把音乐关掉了？我还想听呢。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme bǎ yīnyuè guāndiào le? Wǒ hái xiǎng tīng ne.
  • English: Why did you turn off the music? I still wanted to listen.
  • Analysis: A question challenging a past action. This shows how 关掉 is used in everyday disagreements or conversations.
• Example 9:
  • 飞机起飞前，所有乘客都必须关掉手机。
  • Pinyin: Fēijī qǐfēi qián, suǒyǒu chéngkè dōu bìxū guāndiào shǒujī.
  • English: Before the plane takes off, all passengers must turn off their cellphones.
  • Analysis: An example of 关掉 used in a formal, instructional context.
• Example 10:
  • 这个警报响个不停，我不知道怎么关掉它！
  • Pinyin: Zhège jǐngbào xiǎng ge bù tíng, wǒ bù zhīdào zěnme guāndiào tā!
  • English: This alarm won't stop ringing, I don't know how to turn it off!
  • Analysis: Expressing frustration and inability. A very common situation for learners to find themselves in!

• 关 (guān) vs. 关掉 (guāndiào):

For turning things off, you can often use just 关 (guān), as in 关灯 (guān dēng). 关掉 is slightly more emphatic and explicitly confirms the result. As a beginner, you can almost always use 关掉 without being wrong. It's the safer, clearer choice.

• Safe: 请把灯关掉。(Qǐng bǎ dēng guāndiào.)
• Also Correct (Slightly more colloquial): 请关灯。(Qǐng guān dēng.)
• Mistake: Using 关掉 for Physical Doors/Windows

This is the most common mistake. 关掉 is for things that have an “on/off” state (usually involving power or a continuous process). For physically closing a door or window, you must use only 关 (guān).

• Correct: 请关门。(Qǐng guān mén.) - Please close the door.
• Incorrect: ~~请关掉门。~~(Qǐng guāndiào mén.) - This sounds like you're trying to “deactivate” the door, which makes no sense.
• 关掉 (guāndiào) vs. 关闭 (guānbì):
• *关闭 (guānbì) is a more formal equivalent. You will see it in written instructions, on software buttons (“Close Window”), and in business contexts (“The factory has been closed”). In spoken, everyday Chinese, 关掉 is far more common. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * 开 (kāi) - The direct antonym of 关. It means “to open” or “to turn on.” * 打开 (dǎkāi) - A common synonym for 开, often used for turning on electronics or opening apps. “To open up.” * 关 (guān) - The root verb meaning “to close” or “to shut.” Can be used alone for doors, windows, and sometimes lights. * 关机 (guānjī) - A more specific term for shutting down a machine (机), especially computers and phones. Interchangeable with 关掉** in these cases.
• 关闭 (guānbì) - A more formal word for “to close” or “to shut down.” Often seen in writing or formal announcements.
• 熄火 (xīhuǒ) - A specific verb for turning off an engine (car, motorcycle). Literally “to extinguish the fire.”
• 拔掉 (bádiào) - To physically unplug something from a power socket. It describes pulling the plug, not pressing a button.