How to say "close" in Japanese

• 近いちかいJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThe adjective sense of 'close': near, a short distance away. Use it for people, places, or things that are close by, not for the act of closing something.
• 終わりおわりJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounCovers the noun 'close' in the sense of end or conclusion, as in 'the close of the year'. Its core meaning is simply 'end', so choose it whenever 'end' could replace 'close'.
  それは授業じゅぎょうの終おわりだった。↗

  That was the end of the class.
• 閉じるとじるJLPT N3approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbThe verb for closing something: a book, your eyes, a meeting. Use it when someone actively shuts or closes an object, or brings a gathering to a close.
• 終了しゅうりょうJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbA noun for the close or conclusion of an event, activity, or process, with the flavor of termination — something being ended or finished, rather than an object being shut.
  トムは勤務きんむ終了時間しゅうりょうじかんを超こえて働はたらくと、５割わりアップの時給じきゅうをもらっていた。↗

  Tom got time and a half when he worked beyond his usual quitting time.
• 閉まるしまるJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbThe intransitive verb: use it when the thing itself shuts or is shut — a door that closes, a window that has shut — rather than when someone closes it.
  あいにく店みせは閉しまっていた。↗

  Unfortunately, the store was closed.

Use 「近い」 for the adjective 'close' meaning near; 「閉じる」 for closing a book, eyes, or meeting; 「閉まる」 when something shuts or is shut; and 「終わり」 or 終了 for the noun 'close' meaning end or conclusion.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 近いちかいnear
• 終わりおわりend
• 閉じるとじるto close (e.g. book, eyes, meeting, etc.)
• 終了しゅうりょうend
• 閉まるしまるto be shut
• 親しいしたしいclose (e.g. friend)
• つぶるto close (one's eyes)
• クローズclose
• 切り上げるきりあげるto close (at a certain point)
• 密接みっせつclose (relationship, connection, etc.)
• 間近まぢかnear
• 厳密げんみつstrict
• 縮まるちぢまるto shorten
• 閉ざすとざすto shut
• 緻密ちみつfine (grain, workmanship, etc.)
• 終結しゅうけつend
• 終末しゅうまつend
• 打ち切りうちきりend
• 終わるおわるto end
• 閉めるしめるto close
• 終局しゅうきょくend
• 終幕しゅうまくend
• 塞ぐふさぐto stop up
• 精密せいみつprecise
• 合わさるあわさるto join
• きわどいrisky
• 打ち切るうちきるto stop
• 濃密のうみつdense
• 危なっかしいあぶなっかしいdangerous
• 仕舞いしまいend
• 引けひけclose (e.g. of business)
• 近しいちかしいintimate
• つぼむto close (of flowers)
• 引けるひけるto close
• 仲がいいなかがいいclose
• 目の詰んだめのつんだclose
• 仲の良いなかのよいclose (e.g. in terms of relationship)
• 仲いいなかいいclose
• 末葉まつようend (of an era, century)
• 結尾けつびend
• 筆を置くふでをおくto stop writing
• 緘するかんするto seal
• 閉てるたてるto shut
• おそばnear
• 気の知れたきのしれたtrusted (friend)
• 鎖すさすto shut
• 親しげしたしげfriendly
• 危なかしいあぶなかしいdangerous
• しまうto close (a business, etc.)
• 結ぶむすぶto close (e.g. deal)
• 丁寧ていねいcareful
• 直じきnearby
• たたむto close (a shop, business)
• 近々ちかぢかclose (by)
• はねるto break up
• 打ち上げるうちあげるto finish (e.g. a theater run, sumo tournament)
• 暮れるくれるto end (of a day, year, season, etc.)
• 打ち上げうちあげend (of a project, theatrical run, etc.)
• 暮れくれend
• 閉幕へいまく(coming to an) end
• 幕切れまくぎれend
• 末すえend (of the year, month, etc.)
• 微妙びみょうdifficult
• 密みつclose (relationship)
• 掉尾ちょうびend
• ご丁寧ごていねいcareful
• びみょいdifficult
• 深いふかいclose (relationship)
• 危ないあぶないclose (call)
• かぶるto close
• 立てるたてるto shut
• 差すさすto shut
• きつい(too) tight
• 濃いこいthick (i.e. "as thick as thieves")
• 惜しいおしいalmost (but not quite)
• はねclose (e.g. of a theatrical performance)
• 幕まくend
• 挿すさすto shut