Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 關 / 关 | guān | |
| 閉 / 闭 | bì | |
| 關閉 / 关闭 | guānbì | |
| 關上 / 关上 | guānshang | completive |
The primary meaning of these terms is to move a physical barrier, such as a door, window or drawer, into a closed position. While 關 / 关 is the general verb, other forms exist to specify the completion of the action or to fit formal contexts like shutting down systems.
Which one should you use?
Use 關 / 关 when the action involves moving a physical barrier like a door or window to a closed position. The form 關上 / 关上 is used to emphasize the completion of the action. For formal contexts involving shutting down electronic devices, systems or businesses, use 關閉 / 关闭.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
關閉 / 关闭 is a formal term often used for shutting down systems or businesses. In contrast, 關 / 关 and 關上 / 关上 are standard for daily physical actions.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
This emphasizes that the action has been completed and is frequently used in commands, such as telling someone to 'Close the door!'
How do you pronounce it?
guān
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 關 / 关 to mean 'close' in the sense of physical proximity or being nearby. For the adjective 'close' (nearby), use 近 instead.
Did you know?
- The character 關 / 关 actually depicts a physical way of locking a door using two wooden sticks, known as a latch, placed across the door frame.
Examples in context
- 请关闭手机Please turn off your mobile phone
- 关门To close the door
- 关窗To shut the window
- 我关掉电视I turned off the TV
- 关上冰箱To close the fridge
- 关上车门To shut the car door
- 能否关上窗户？Can you close the window?
- 關掉電源To turn off the power
- 關掉空調To turn off the air conditioner
- 請關掉所有電器Please turn off all electrical appliances
- 加油!Good luck!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “close” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 閉, 關, CC BY-SA 4.0.
