열다 vs 켜다
Korean word comparison
Listen to 열다
Listen to 켜다
| 열다 | 켜다 |
|---|---|
YEOL-da verb | kyeoda verb |
| to open (something); to start or turn on (a shop, program, etc.) | to turn on (an electrical device, light, machine) |
How they differ
켜다 specifically means to supply power to or activate an electrical device or light, while 열다 more broadly means to open something (physically) or to launch/start an event or service. You cannot use 켜다 for physical openings like doors or windows, and you generally cannot use 열다 when you only mean 'power on' an appliance.
When to use each
When to use 열다: Prefer 열다 when you mean to open a door, window, book, a shop, or to hold/launch an event or service.
When to use 켜다: Prefer 켜다 when you mean to turn on lights, computers, TVs, heaters, or other electrical devices.
Side-by-side examples
- 창문을 열어 환기를 시켰다.
(I opened the window to ventilate.) - 밤에 방의 불을 켰다.
(I turned on the room light at night.)
Register & nuance: Both are neutral in register; 켜다 is the standard everyday verb for powering on devices.