閉める

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. ドアを閉めてください。▶ —
   Please close the door.
2. 店は六時に閉まります。▶ —
   The shop closes at 6.

Collocations

Mnemonic

しめる — 閉める, Yamato. An ichidan verb. Transitive. The transitive opposite of 開ける ── its intransitive pair is 閉まる shimaru (to close, by itself). These four verbs are the classic N5 model set for intransitive vs transitive grammar ── 開ける (transitive) ↔ 開く (intransitive) // 閉める (transitive) ↔ 閉まる (intransitive). Internalize one pair and the whole skeleton of Japanese transitivity falls into place. The sound shimeru carries another kanji entirely ── 締める (to tighten, fasten). 締める: ネクタイを締める (knot a tie), 気を引き締める (brace oneself = tighten the slack mind). The kanji 締 = 糸 (thread) + 帝 (control) = 'to bind firmly with thread', then extends metaphorically to deadlines (締切 shimekiri), formal conclusions (締結 teiketsu), and self-discipline. Lock in 開/閉 at N5; bring in 締 around N3.

Quick check

1. Which kanji for "tie a necktie"?

   • ネクタイを締める (締 — tighten)
   • ネクタイを閉める (閉 — close, wrong)
   • ネクタイを開ける (open, wrong)
   • ネクタイを着める (no such verb form)