불을 켜다
bureul kyeoda
to turn on the light
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use '불을 켜다' to describe turning on any light source, from a bedroom lamp to a city streetlight.
- Means: To turn on a light or ignite a flame.
- Used in: Entering dark rooms, starting to study, or lighting candles.
- Don't confuse: Don't use '열다' (to open) for lights; use '켜다'.
Explanation at your level:
المعنى
To activate a light source.
خلفية ثقافية
In Korean apartments, the 'master switch' near the front door often allows you to 'turn off all lights' (일괄소등) at once, but '불을 켜다' is still the phrase used for individual rooms. Historically, lighting the 'fire' in the kitchen (아궁이) was the most important morning task, linking 'fire' to the survival of the family. The 'last person to leave turns off the lights' is a strict social rule in Korean offices to show responsibility. Lotus lanterns are lit during Buddha's Birthday. This act of 'lighting' is called '점등' but colloquially people say '연등에 불을 켜다'.
Drop the marker
In casual conversation, just say '불 켜' (Bul kyeo). It sounds much more natural than using the full '불을 켜다'.
TVs and Computers
Remember that '켜다' is also the verb for turning on your phone, TV, and laptop. It's a multi-purpose tech verb!
المعنى
To activate a light source.
Drop the marker
In casual conversation, just say '불 켜' (Bul kyeo). It sounds much more natural than using the full '불을 켜다'.
TVs and Computers
Remember that '켜다' is also the verb for turning on your phone, TV, and laptop. It's a multi-purpose tech verb!
Politeness
When asking someone to turn on the light, always add '좀' (jom - a little/please) to sound softer: '불 좀 켜 주세요'.
اختبر نفسك
Choose the correct verb to complete the sentence: '방이 어두워요. 불을 _______.'
방이 어두워요. 불을 _______.
'켜요' is the correct verb for lights. '열어요' is for doors, '틀어요' is for water, and '걸어요' is for calls or walking.
Fill in the blank with the past tense of '켜다'.
어제 너무 어두워서 불을 ______.
The past tense of '켜다' is '켰어요' (polite) or '켰습니다' (formal).
Complete the dialogue.
A: 책을 읽고 싶어요. B: 그럼, _________.
If someone wants to read a book, you suggest they turn on the light.
Match the object with the correct verb.
1. 불 (Light), 2. 문 (Door), 3. 물 (Water)
Lights are '켜다', doors are '열다', and water is '틀다'.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
وسائل تعلم بصرية
What can you '켜다'?
Light Sources
- • 불 (Light)
- • 전등 (Lamp)
- • 양초 (Candle)
Electronics
- • TV
- • 컴퓨터 (Computer)
- • 핸드폰 (Phone)
켜다 vs 끄다
الأسئلة الشائعة
14 أسئلةNo, for a car engine, use '시동을 걸다'. '켜다' is for the car lights only.
In this context, it almost always means 'light'. If you mean a dangerous fire, you say '불이 나다' (a fire broke out).
The opposite is '끄다' (kkeuda).
Yes, you can say 'switch-eul kyeoda', but 'bul-eul kyeoda' is more common.
You say '불이 이미 켜져 있어요'.
Yes, it can mean to play a violin or to stretch one's body (기지개를 켜다).
It is '켜요'. The '어' is absorbed into the 'ㅕ'.
Yes, '손전등 불을 켜다' is perfect.
You can say '가스불을 켜다', but '불을 붙이다' is also common.
The verb itself is neutral. The formality comes from the ending (켭니다 vs 켜요 vs 켜).
It's a historical carryover from when all light came from fire (candles/lamps).
Yes, '라디오를 켜다' is correct, though '틀다' is also used.
누가 불 켰어요?
Not really, but '불 켜!' is the most blunt/casual way to say it.
عبارات ذات صلة
불을 끄다
contrastTo turn off the light
불이 들어오다
similarThe light comes on
전원을 켜다
specialized formTo turn on the power
촛불을 밝히다
builds onTo light a candle
눈에 불을 켜다
figurativeTo be wide-eyed with focus/anger
أين تستخدمها
Coming home late
A: 집이 너무 어두워요.
B: 빨리 불을 켜세요.
In a classroom
Teacher: 칠판이 안 보이죠? 불 좀 켤게요.
Student: 네, 감사합니다.
Birthday party
Friend 1: 케이크 가져왔어!
Friend 2: 잠깐만, 초에 불을 켜자.
Office work
Manager: 김 대리, 사무실 불 좀 다 켜 주세요.
Employee: 네, 알겠습니다. 지금 켭니다.
Power outage
Son: 아빠, 갑자기 깜깜해요!
Father: 괜찮아. 손전등 불을 켰어.
Bedtime reading
Wife: 졸려요? 불 끌까요?
Husband: 아니요, 책 읽게 스탠드 불 좀 켜 줘.
Street safety
Tourist: 길이 너무 어두워요.
Guide: 곧 가로등 불이 켤 거예요.
Morning routine
Roommate A: 일어나! (불을 켜며)
Roommate B: 으아, 불 켜지 마! 눈부셔.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Bul' as a 'Bulb'. You 'Kyeo' (Key-oh) the 'Key' to turn on the bulb.
Visual Association
Imagine a dark room where you find a glowing 'Key' (켜) that lights up a giant 'Bulb' (불).
Rhyme
Dark is full, turn on the Bul (불)!
Story
A long time ago, a boy named Bul was afraid of the dark. His mother gave him a magic word, 'Kyeoda'. Every time he said 'Bul-eul Kyeoda', the stars would come down to light his room.
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Every time you enter a room today and turn on the light, say out loud: '불을 켭니다'.
In Other Languages
Encender la luz
Spanish speakers sometimes colloquially say 'abrir la luz' (open the light), which is impossible in Korean.
Allumer la lumière
French uses 'allumer' for computers too, just like Korean uses '켜다'.
Das Licht anmachen
German focuses on the 'on/off' state change rather than the 'lighting' action.
電気を点ける (Denki o tsukeru)
Japanese often specifies 'Denki' (electricity) whereas Korean often just says 'Bul' (fire/light).
شغل الضوء (Shaghghil al-daw')
In many dialects, 'open' (iftah) is used, which is a major point of interference for Arabic learners of Korean.
开灯 (Kāidēng)
Chinese learners must be careful not to translate 'kāi' as '열다' in Korean.
Turn on the light
Korean '켜다' doesn't imply a turning motion, just the activation of light.
Ligar a luz
Korean focuses on the result (light) rather than the mechanism (connection).
Easily Confused
Both involve 'fire' and 'starting' something.
Use '켜다' for lights/switches. Use '붙이다' (ignite) for cigarettes, stoves, or starting a literal fire.
Both involve lights.
'달다' means to hang or install a light fixture, not to turn it on.
الأسئلة الشائعة (14)
No, for a car engine, use '시동을 걸다'. '켜다' is for the car lights only.
In this context, it almost always means 'light'. If you mean a dangerous fire, you say '불이 나다' (a fire broke out).
The opposite is '끄다' (kkeuda).
Yes, you can say 'switch-eul kyeoda', but 'bul-eul kyeoda' is more common.
You say '불이 이미 켜져 있어요'.
Yes, it can mean to play a violin or to stretch one's body (기지개를 켜다).
It is '켜요'. The '어' is absorbed into the 'ㅕ'.
Yes, '손전등 불을 켜다' is perfect.
You can say '가스불을 켜다', but '불을 붙이다' is also common.
The verb itself is neutral. The formality comes from the ending (켭니다 vs 켜요 vs 켜).
It's a historical carryover from when all light came from fire (candles/lamps).
Yes, '라디오를 켜다' is correct, though '틀다' is also used.
누가 불 켰어요?
Not really, but '불 켜!' is the most blunt/casual way to say it.
