What does 閉 mean in Japanese?
閉 means to close or shut. It has two kun’yomi verb pairs: 閉まる (shimaru, intransitive: something closes) and 閉める (shimeru, transitive: to close something), plus 閉じる (tojiru, to close/shut — typically used for things like eyes, books, and pages). Understanding when to use 閉める versus 閉じる is a key distinction for N4 learners.
閉 pairs naturally with 開 (open) to describe the full open-close cycle — 開店/閉店 (store opening/closing), 開幕/閉幕 (curtain rising/falling). Both kanji are essential for reading signs, timetables, and notices in daily life in Japan.
Reading
On’yomi: ヘイ (hei)
Kun’yomi: し-まる (shi-maru), し-める (shi-meru), と-じる (to-jiru)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 閉 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | close, shut |
| Stroke Count | 11 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
How to Understand This Kanji
閉まる (intransitive): something closes on its own — ドアが閉まる (the door closes), 店が閉まっている (the shop is closed). 閉める (transitive): you close something — ドアを閉める (close the door), 窓を閉める (close the window). 閉じる (tojiru) is used for objects that fold or come together: 目を閉じる (close one’s eyes), 本を閉じる (close a book), ファイルを閉じる (close a file). 閉店 (heiten) specifically means a shop is closed for the day or has shut down permanently.
Common Words
- 閉まる（しまる / shimaru） — to close, to shut (intransitive)
- 閉める（しめる / shimeru） — to close something (transitive)
- 閉じる（とじる / tojiru） — to close, to shut (eyes, books, files)
- 閉店（へいてん / heiten） — shop closing, closed for business
- 閉会（へいかい / heikai） — closing of a meeting or ceremony
- 閉口（へいこう / heikou） — being at a loss, being stumped
Example Sentences
-
ドアが閉まっています。
どあがしまっています。 / Doa ga shimatte imasu.
The door is closed.
-
窓を閉めてください。
まどをしめてください。 / Mado o shimete kudasai.
Please close the window.
-
このお店は何時に閉店しますか？
このおみせはなんじにへいてんしますか？ / Kono omise wa nanji ni heiten shimasu ka?
What time does this shop close?
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
The 閉まる / 閉める split follows the same intransitive/transitive pattern running through Days 7 and 8: 始まる/始める, 終わる/終える, 変わる/変える. ドアが閉まる (the door closes, it happens) vs ドアを閉める (close the door, you do it).
閉める vs 閉じる is a common confusion. Use 閉める for doors and windows — physical objects you push or pull shut: ドアを閉める, 窓を閉める. Use 閉じる for things that fold together or come to a close: 目を閉じる (close your eyes), 本を閉じる (close a book), タブを閉じる (close a browser tab). In practice, 閉じる is the word you will use most for anything digital (closing files, windows, tabs).
閉店 (heiten, shop closing) is a high-frequency word on signs and in daily life. 閉店時間 (closing time), 閉店セール (closing sale — when a shop shuts permanently). Its counterpart is 開店 (kaiten, shop opening): 開店時間 (opening time). These two form an essential pair for reading shop notices.
閉会 (heikai, closing of a meeting or ceremony) is the formal counterpart to 開会 (kaikai, opening of a meeting). 閉会式 (closing ceremony) is used for events such as sporting competitions, conferences, and official gatherings.
Summary
閉 means to close or shut, with 閉まる/閉める (intransitive/transitive, for doors and windows) and 閉じる (for eyes, books, and digital files) as the core verb forms, and 閉店 as a high-frequency practical compound.