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March 24, 2026
闭(閉)bì(bi4)
The character 闭 (bì) means 'to close' or 'to shut.' It is commonly used in contexts such as closing doors, shutting down activities, or obstructing something. The character conveys a sense of finality or prevention, often in relation to physical objects or figurative concepts.
Strokes6Radical门Frequency#431DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of closing is often associated with endings and transitions, such as the closing of doors to signify new beginnings. This character is commonly seen in phrases used during festivals or ceremonies, where closing rituals hold significance.
Memory Tip
Imagine a door (门) that is being shut tightly, symbolizing the action of closing. Since '闭' sounds like 'bee' (bì), you can picture a bee buzzing around a closed door, unable to enter. This vivid imagery links the character's meaning to its pronunciation.
Meanings of 闭
bì(bi4)
1to close
2to stop up
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About 闭
闭Simplified
閉Traditional
6Strokes
门Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#431Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 闭
Podcast: 闭
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AI Study Notes for 闭
Quick Contrast
关闭 (guān bì) vs 封闭 (fēng bì) — choose 闭 (bì) for general closing actions, while 关闭 (guān bì) often implies turning off or stopping a function, and 封闭 (fēng bì) suggests sealing or enclosing something.
Usage Notes
When using '闭,' be careful with its tone; it is a fourth tone, pronounced sharply. It is often used in combination with other characters, such as '闭嘴' (to shut up) or '闭合' (to close or fit together). Avoid using it in overly informal contexts, as it can sound abrupt.
HSK Study Tips
Although '闭' is not included in the HSK levels, it connects with other verbs indicating actions, such as '开' (to open). Students should focus on recognizing it in compound phrases and practice its use in everyday sentences to enhance vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '闭' with '关' (guān), mistakenly using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我关门' (I close the door) is correct, while saying '我闭门' would sound odd in this context.
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Pronunciation of 闭
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How Well Do You Know 闭?
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Knowing 闭 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.
The character 闭 (bì) means 'to close' or 'to shut.' It is commonly used in contexts such as closing doors, shutting down activities, or obstructing something. The character conveys a sense of finality or prevention, often in relation to physical objects or figurative concepts.
When to use 闭
When using '闭,' be careful with its tone; it is a fourth tone, pronounced sharply. It is often used in combination with other characters, such as '闭嘴' (to shut up) or '闭合' (to close or fit together). Avoid using it in overly informal contexts, as it can sound abrupt.
闭 or something close to it
关闭 (guān bì) vs 封闭 (fēng bì) — choose 闭 (bì) for general closing actions, while 关闭 (guān bì) often implies turning off or stopping a function, and 封闭 (fēng bì) suggests sealing or enclosing something.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '闭' with '关' (guān), mistakenly using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我关门' (I close the door) is correct, while saying '我闭门' would sound odd in this context.
Write 闭
闭
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Grammar Patterns of 闭
闭 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 5 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.
He was short of cash after the collapse of his business.
10
戈登先生突然闭口不言，他的朋友们知道有哪儿不对劲了。
gē dēng xiān shēng tū rán bì kǒu bù yán， ， tā de péng yǒu mén zhī dào yǒu nǎ ér bù duì jìn。
Mr. Gordon stopped talking, and his friends knew something was up.
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Word Family of 闭
Words Containing This Character20
闭bìto close閉
关闭guānbìto close關閉
封闭fēngbìto seal封閉
闭上to 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Shut up!閉嘴
闭合closed-loop閉合
闭关to close the passes閉關
闭门to close a door閉門
密闭sealed密閉
闭路电视closed-circuit television閉路電視
闭锁to lock閉鎖
关禁闭to put in detention (a soldier, a pupil)關禁閉
闭会close a meeting閉會
封闭性encapsulation封閉性
闭门羹to be refused entrance (idiom)閉門羹
闭门造车lit. to build a cart behind closed doors閉門造車
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 闭
What does 关闭 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 闭
Common phrases with 闭 include '闭上' (bì shàng), meaning 'to close up,' and '闭目' (bì mù), which means 'to shut one's eyes.' These phrases are often used in both spoken and written Chinese.
While both 闭 (bì) and 关 (guān) can mean 'to close,' 闭 tends to be used in more specific contexts, such as closing eyes or stopping up something. 关 is more commonly used for doors and windows. Understanding the nuances of these verbs can enhance your Chinese fluency.
闭 (bì) means 'to close' or 'to shut.' It can also imply stopping something up or obstructing it. This character is often used in contexts related to closing doors, eyes, or even abstract concepts like closing a discussion.
You can use 闭 (bì) in sentences like '请闭上门' (qǐng bì shàng mén), which means 'Please close the door.' It can also be used metaphorically, such as in '闭嘴' (bì zuǐ) meaning 'shut up.' Understanding its context is crucial for proper usage.
'闭' is often used in phrases like '请闭门' (Please close the door) or '他闭上眼睛' (He closed his eyes).
'闭' can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more common in everyday speech.
'闭' is similar to '关' (guān), which also means 'to close' but is often used for devices or systems.
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