Definitions
(verb)
to close; to shut
(verb)
to block; to obstruct
Etymology
Simplified form of 閉. Depicts a door closed shut with horizontal bars.
About
The character for "close", traditionally written as 閉, structurally combines the semantic element for door, 門, with an internal component historically representing a bar or bolt, thus pictographically conveying the idea of securing an entrance. This etymology directly informs its primary sense of shutting or obstructing a physical passageway. Over time, the meaning broadened from the concrete action of closing doors to include metaphorical applications such as bringing events to a conclusion, ceasing activities, or describing conditions of blockage and seclusion. The simplified form 闭 retains the door radical 门 while modifying the internal component, yet the character continues to carry its foundational association with acts of enclosure and termination.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
请闭上眼睛。
他闭着嘴不说话。
商店在晚上九点闭店。
图书馆周一闭馆。
这位大师决定闭关修炼。
他闭门谢客，专心写作。
闭上眼睛，想象一片大海。
在公众场合发言时，他总会紧张得闭上眼睛。