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March 24, 2026
关(關)guān(guan1)
The character 关 (guān) primarily means 'to close' or 'to shut.' It is commonly used in the context of closing doors, windows, or other objects. Additionally, it can refer to matters of concern or involvement, such as being related to someone or something.
Strokes6Radical丷Frequency#560DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese culture, closing doors is often associated with security and the concept of protecting one's home and family. It is common to hear phrases like '关门放狗' (close the door and release the dog), indicating vigilance.
Memory tip
Imagine two doors (representing the character's shape) being shut tightly at a mountain pass, symbolizing the concept of closure. The sound 'guān' can be linked to the image of a guard (关) at a checkpoint, ensuring everything is closed off and secure.
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AI study notes for 关
Quick Contrast
关闭 (guānbì) vs 关 (guān): use 关闭 for a more formal or complete sense of shutting something down, while 关 is more casual and can imply a broader sense of concern or involvement.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 关 (guān) with the similar-sounding 观 (guān), which means 'to observe.' This character is used in both formal and informal contexts, and it often appears in phrases like '关门' (to close the door) or '关心' (to care about).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 关 connects well with other action verbs such as 开 (kāi, to open) and 走 (zǒu, to go). Students should focus on using it in practical sentences related to daily activities.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 关 when referring to opening something. For example, saying '我关窗' (wǒ guān chuāng) instead of '我开窗' (wǒ kāi chuāng) which means 'I open the window.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 关
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Learning Lab
Knowing 关 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
Phonosemantic compound. 門 represents the meaning and 𢇇 represents the sound. The simplified character 关 was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 關. The traditional component 門 was removed for simplification.
The character 关 (guān) primarily means 'to close' or 'to shut.' It is commonly used in the context of closing doors, windows, or other objects. Additionally, it can refer to matters of concern or involvement, such as being related to someone or something.
When to use 关
Be careful not to confuse 关 (guān) with the similar-sounding 观 (guān), which means 'to observe.' This character is used in both formal and informal contexts, and it often appears in phrases like '关门' (to close the door) or '关心' (to care about).
关 or something close to it
关闭 (guānbì) vs 关 (guān): use 关闭 for a more formal or complete sense of shutting something down, while 关 is more casual and can imply a broader sense of concern or involvement.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 关 when referring to opening something. For example, saying '我关窗' (wǒ guān chuāng) instead of '我开窗' (wǒ kāi chuāng) which means 'I open the window.'
Write 关
关
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Grammar patterns of 关
关 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
