Meaning
To deactivate a light source.
Cultural Background
Energy saving is a national priority. You will see '에너지 절약' (Energy Saving) stickers near many light switches in public buildings. The 'Agungi' (fireplace) was the heart of the home. Extinguishing it properly at night was a safety ritual to prevent house fires. The metaphorical 'putting out fires' is a common way to describe the high-pressure environment of Korean startups and corporations. Korea actively participates in 'Earth Hour', where major landmarks like the N Seoul Tower turn off their lights.
The 'ㅡ' Rule
Always remember that 끄다 becomes 꺼요. It's one of the most common irregulars you'll use.
Don't 'Close' the Light
Avoid saying '불을 닫다'. It's a very common beginner mistake that sounds quite strange to Koreans.
Meaning
To deactivate a light source.
The 'ㅡ' Rule
Always remember that 끄다 becomes 꺼요. It's one of the most common irregulars you'll use.
Don't 'Close' the Light
Avoid saying '불을 닫다'. It's a very common beginner mistake that sounds quite strange to Koreans.
Metaphorical Mastery
Using '급한 불을 끄다' in a business meeting will make you sound very natural and advanced.
Politeness Matters
When asking someone to turn off the light, always add '좀' (a little/please) to sound softer: '불 좀 꺼 줘요'.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of '끄다'.
너무 밝아요. 불을 좀 ( ).
'꺼요' is the polite present form of '끄다'.
Which sentence is correct for 'I turned off the light yesterday'?
어제 불을...
'껐어요' is the past tense form.
Match the situation to the correct phrase.
Situation: You are leaving a room and want to save electricity.
Turning off the light is the standard action for saving electricity.
Fill in the blank in the dialogue.
A: 잘 자요. B: 네, ( ) 꺼 줄까요?
In a bedtime context, you ask to turn off the light.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
끄다 vs. 닫다 vs. 잠그다
Practice Bank
4 exercises너무 밝아요. 불을 좀 ( ).
'꺼요' is the polite present form of '끄다'.
어제 불을...
'껐어요' is the past tense form.
Situation: You are leaving a room and want to save electricity.
Turning off the light is the standard action for saving electricity.
A: 잘 자요. B: 네, ( ) 꺼 줄까요?
In a bedtime context, you ask to turn off the light.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, 'TV를 끄다' is perfectly natural and very common.
The opposite is '불을 켜다' (to turn on the light).
The phrase itself is neutral. To make it polite, use '불을 꺼 주세요'.
It's a historical carryover from when oil lamps and candles were the only light sources.
Yes, '시동을 끄다' means to turn off the car engine.
'끄다' is everyday speech; '소등하다' is formal/technical (e.g., in a hospital or military).
You say '불 끄지 마세요'.
Yes, '담배를 끄다' means to put out a cigarette.
There isn't a specific slang word, but dropping the object marker ('불 꺼') is very casual.
Yes, even if you use a voice command, you would say '불 꺼'.
Related Phrases
불을 켜다
contrastTo turn on the light
전원을 끄다
specialized formTo turn off the power
소등하다
formalTo extinguish a light (Hanja)
촛불을 불다
similarTo blow out a candle
불을 지피다
contrastTo light a fire
