开关

• Pinyin: kāi guān
• Hanzi breakdown: 开 = 一 + 廾, to open; 关 = 丷 + 天, to close (simplified from 關)

Meaning

Switch; power button. A device for turning something on or off.

Refers to physical switches for lights, appliances, or machinery. Can also mean the action of switching on/off. Common phrases: 电灯开关 (light switch), 总开关 (main switch), 开关按钮 (on/off button). Used both literally and occasionally metaphorically.

Examples

1. 墙上的开关坏了，灯一直打不开。 The switch on the wall is broken; the light won't turn on.
2. 离开房间前记得把所有电器的开关都关掉。 Remember to turn off all the appliance switches before leaving the room.
3. 这台机器的开关在侧面，你找找看。 The switch for this machine is on the side — take a look.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, technical, home

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 开关在哪儿？(Where's the switch?)
• 按一下开关就行了。(Just press the switch.)

Don't Say

• 混淆开关和按钮 (开关 typically toggles between two states; 按钮 is a general button that may have various functions)

Origin & History

Compound of 开 (to open/turn on) + 关 (to close/turn off). The two actions combined describe what a switch does.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal