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閉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
閉bìto shut, to close; to obstruct, to blockzg, 11 strokes, radical 門
bì(bi4)bi T4
  1. 1to shut, to close; to obstruct, to block
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March 24, 2026

閉bì(bi4)

The character 閉 (bì) means 'to shut' or 'to close.' It is commonly used in contexts such as closing a door or shutting down a device. Additionally, it can imply obstruction or blockage, making it relevant in discussions about preventing access or hindrance.

Strokes11Radical門
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, closing doors can symbolize the end of a phase or keeping out negative energy, reflecting the importance of maintaining a harmonious environment in daily life.

Memory tip

Imagine a door (the radical 門, meaning 'door') being shut tightly (閉) to keep things out. Think of the sound 'bì' as a firm closing sound, like a door slamming. Visualize a block preventing entry, reinforcing the idea of closure and obstruction.

Meanings of 閉

bì(bi4)
1to shut, to close; to obstruct, to block
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 閉

閉Simplified
11Strokes
門Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 閉

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Podcast: 閉

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AI study notes for 閉

Quick Contrast

关 (guān) vs. 闭 (bì) — use 闭 (bì) when emphasizing the act of shutting something off completely, while 关 (guān) is more general for closing or turning off.

Usage Notes

This character is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but care should be taken with its tone. Common collocations include 閉門 (bìmén, to close the door) and 閉嘴 (bìzuǐ, to shut one's mouth). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding characters like 畢 (bì), which means 'to finish.'

HSK Study Tips

Although 閉 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with HSK Level 3 words such as 門 (mén, door) and 開 (kāi, to open). Focus on understanding its usage in compound words to enhance your vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 閉 with 開 (kāi). For instance, saying '我閉了窗' (Wǒ bìle chuāng) is correct, but saying '我開了窗' (Wǒ kāile chuāng) means 'I opened the window,' which is the opposite action.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 閉

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Etymology of 閉

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 閉. Depicts a door closed shut with horizontal bars.

Memory hint

A door 門 blocked by bars 才

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 閉?

Decomposition of 閉

IDS Structure⿵門才
閉Full character
=
門men2
enclosing
才cai2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 閉?

How to say to shut, to close; to obstruct, to block in Chinese

“to shut, to close; to obstruct, to block” in Chinese is閉bì

The character 閉 (bì) means 'to shut' or 'to close.' It is commonly used in contexts such as closing a door or shutting down a device. Additionally, it can imply obstruction or blockage, making it relevant in discussions about preventing access or hindrance.

When to use 閉

This character is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but care should be taken with its tone. Common collocations include 閉門 (bìmén, to close the door) and 閉嘴 (bìzuǐ, to shut one's mouth). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding characters like 畢 (bì), which means 'to finish.'

閉 or something close to it

关 (guān) vs. 闭 (bì) — use 闭 (bì) when emphasizing the act of shutting something off completely, while 关 (guān) is more general for closing or turning off.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 閉 with 開 (kāi). For instance, saying '我閉了窗' (Wǒ bìle chuāng) is correct, but saying '我開了窗' (Wǒ kāile chuāng) means 'I opened the window,' which is the opposite action.

Write 閉

閉

Practice writing 閉 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 閉

Words containing this character20
闭bìto close閉
关闭guānbìto close關閉
封闭fēngbìto seal封閉
闭上bìshangto close閉上
闭幕bìmùthe curtain falls閉幕
倒闭dǎobìto go bankrupt倒閉
闭幕式bìmùshìclosing ceremony閉幕式
闭塞bìsèto stop up閉塞
闭嘴bìzuǐShut up!閉嘴
闭合bìhéclosed-loop閉合
闭关bìguānto close the passes閉關
闭门bìménto close a door閉門
密闭mìbìsealed密閉
闭路电视bìlùdiànshìclosed-circuit television閉路電視
闭锁bìsuǒto lock閉鎖
关禁闭guānjìnbìto put in detention (a soldier, a pupil)關禁閉
闭会bìhuìclose a meeting閉會
封闭性fēngbìxìngencapsulation封閉性
闭门羹bìméngēngto be refused entrance (idiom)閉門羹
闭门造车bìménzàochēlit. to build a cart behind closed doors閉門造車
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 閉

What does 闭 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 閉

You can say '他閉上了門' (Tā bì shàngle mén), which means 'He closed the door.'

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