Meanings of 閉
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About 閉
Podcast: 閉
Podcast: 閉
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AI Study Notes for 閉
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.
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.'
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.
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.
Pronunciation of 閉
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Etymology of 閉
Simplified form of 閉. Depicts a door closed shut with horizontal bars.
A door 門 blocked by bars 才
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 閉
Simplified form of 閉. Depicts a door closed shut with horizontal bars.
- 1The giveawayA door 門 blocked by bars 才
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 閉? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 閉?
Decomposition of 閉
Identify the Components
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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
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
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Practice writing 閉 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 閉
Compound Meaning
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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