閉じる|とじるtojiru[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N3approx.Common
Definitions
  1. ichidan verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbto close (e.g. book, eyes, meeting, etc.); to shut
Conjugation
Dictionary form閉じる(とじる)
Polite (masu)閉じます(とじます)
Negative (nai)閉じない(とじない)
polite (masen)閉じません(とじません)
classical zu / nu閉じず・閉じぬ(とじず・とじぬ)
Past (ta)閉じた(とじた)
polite (mashita)閉じました(とじました)
Past negative (nakatta)閉じなかった(とじなかった)
polite (masen deshita)閉じませんでした(とじませんでした)
Te form閉じて(とじて)
Potential閉じられる(とじられる)
Passive閉じられる(とじられる)
Causative閉じさせる(とじさせる)
Causative passive閉じさせられる(とじさせられる)
Conditional (ba)閉じれば(とじれば)
tara閉じたら(とじたら)
Volitional閉じよう(とじよう)
polite (mashou)閉じましょう(とじましょう)
Imperative閉じろ(とじろ)

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

Transitive / intransitive pair
intransitive閉じるとじる⇄transitive閉ざすとざす
本ほんが閉とじる
心こころを閉とざす
The intransitive 閉じる focuses on the event or resulting state, as in 本が閉じる; the transitive 閉ざす foregrounds the agent acting on something, as in 心を閉ざす.

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym閉めるしめるNeutralUsed mainly for doors and windows (「ドアを閉める」); 「閉じる」 also covers closing books and eyes and ending meetings.
  • Synonym閉まるしまるNeutralIntransitive, with the door, window or shop as subject: doors shut, shops close (「店が閉まる」); 「閉じる」 works as both transitive and intransitive.
  • Synonym閉幕へいまくNeutralFor shows and tournaments coming to an end, the curtain falling (「閉幕式」).
  • Synonym閉鎖へいさNeutralFor sealing entrances or shutting down operations (「工場閉鎖」, 「道路を一時閉鎖する」).
  • Synonym閉ざすとざすNeutralFor shutting tight or blocking off, often with a sense of isolation (「心を閉ざす」).
  • SynonymつぶるNeutralColloquial for closing one's eyes (「目をつぶる」); also figuratively for turning a blind eye.
  • Related締め切るしめきるNeutralMeans keeping something shut up, or cutting off applications etc. at a deadline (「応募を締め切る」).
  • Related閉会へいかいNeutralFor closing meetings and conferences (「閉会式」); its objects are limited to meetings and events.
  • Related閉館へいかんNeutralFor libraries, museums and similar facilities closing for the day or permanently; limited to 「館」-type institutions.
  • Related塞ぐふさぐNeutralFor plugging or stopping up (「穴を塞ぐ」); the focus is on filling and blocking.
  • Related鎖すさすWrittenArchaic written word, read 「さす」, for shutting or locking doors and windows; in everyday speech say 「閉める」 or 「鍵をかける」.
  • Related閉扉へいひWrittenRare written word for closing a door; in daily speech say 「扉を閉める」.
  • Related閉止へいしWrittenRare written word for stopping or shutting off something such as a valve; everyday speech uses 「止める」.
  • Related閉院へいいんWrittenFor 「院」-type facilities such as hospitals closing down or closing for the day.
  • Related閉場へいじょうWrittenFor 「場」-type venues such as halls closing or emptying out.
  • Related閉園へいえんNeutralFor 「園」-type places such as zoos and amusement parks closing for the day.
  • Related緘するかんするWrittenRare written word for sealing something shut or silencing someone (「口を緘する」).
  • Antonym開けるあけるNeutralThe antonym: to open something, the direct opposite of 「閉じる」.
  • AntonymひらくNeutralThe antonym: to open or spread out, the opposite of 「閉じる」.

Use 「閉じる」 for closing books and eyes and for ending meetings. For doors and windows use 「閉める」, and 「閉まる」 when the door or window itself is the subject; 「閉ざす」 suits shutting out the world (「心を閉ざす」); 「つぶる」 is the colloquial way to close one's eyes; for facilities shutting down use 「閉鎖」 or 「閉館」. The opposites are 「開ける」 and 「開く」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 開ひらいていたものが塞ふさがる。
  2. 開ひらいていたものを塞ふさぐ。
  3. 続つづいていた物事ものごとが終おわりになる。
  4. 続つづいていた物事ものごとを終おわりにする。
Kanji in this word
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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