つぶる・瞑るtsuburu[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
つむるtsumuru[0]heiban (flat)
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto close (one's eyes); to shut
    あまりに光ひかりが強つよいので彼女かのじょは目めをつぶった。↗
    She shut her eyes because the light was so strong.
Conjugation
Dictionary formつぶる
Polite (masu)つぶります
Negative (nai)つぶらない
polite (masen)つぶりません
classical zu / nuつぶらず・つぶらぬ
Past (ta)つぶった
polite (mashita)つぶりました
Past negative (nakatta)つぶらなかった
polite (masen deshita)つぶりませんでした
Te formつぶって
Potentialつぶれる
Passiveつぶられる
Causativeつぶらせる
Causative passiveつぶらせられる・つぶらされる
Conditional (ba)つぶれば
taraつぶったら
Volitionalつぶろう
polite (mashou)つぶりましょう
Imperativeつぶれ

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym閉じるとじるNeutralThe most versatile verb for closing things, as in 「目を閉じる」「本を閉じる」; 「瞑る」 is used only of the eyes, often figuratively for ignoring something.
  • Related閉ざすとざすWrittenTo shut off or seal up, as in 「心を閉ざす」「門を閉ざす」; written in tone and often abstract, unlike 「瞑る」's focus on the eyes.
  • Related閉めるしめるNeutralFor shutting doors, windows and lids, as in 「ドアを閉める」; it never applies to the eyes, which is what 「瞑る」 covers.
  • Related塞ぐふさぐNeutralTo plug or block, as in 「耳を塞ぐ」「道を塞ぐ」; it stresses cutting off a passage or opening rather than closing the eyes.
  • RelatedすぼめるNeutralTo narrow or draw in, as in 「口を窄める」「肩を窄める」; 「瞑る」 is specific to closing the eyes.
  • AntonymひらくNeutralThe antonym: to open, as in 「目を開く」; it stands opposite to 「瞑る」 closing the eyes.

Use 「瞑る」 for closing the eyes, literally or figuratively turning a blind eye, as in 「目を瞑る」「失敗に目を瞑る」. For closing in general pick 「閉じる」, for doors 「閉める」, for blocking 「塞ぐ」; the opposite is 「開く」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 眼めを閉とじる。つむる。
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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