“tojiru” vs. “shimeru”:The Words Learners Get Confused

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じる vs. める: The Words Learners Get Confused

What is the difference between “じる(tojiru) and める(shimeru)”? Which is younger or older than you? After reading this, you would be answering this question. Let me introduce what their subtle differences are and how you correctly use them such as native speakers today!

じる (tojiru) / める (shimeru)

Close / 关闭, 关闭 / 닫기, 닫는다 / Khép, Đóng

Both “じる(tojiru) and める(shimeru)” mean “to change from being open to not being open”. However, they have subtle differences. The differences between them are that “じる” is used as both “transitive and intransitive.” such as ドアがじる(a door closes), みせじる(a shop closes), etc as transitive and じる(close one’s eyes), くちじる(close one’s mouth), 本をじる(close an umbrella), etc. Whereas “める” is used as only “transitive” such as ドアをめる(close a door), まどめる(close a gate), etc. The basic ways to use them are that “じる”; “わたしは___をじる。(I close ___)” or “___がじる。(___ close.)” and める; “わたし___をめる。(I close ___). So what your question is what the difference between “わたしじる。” and “わたしめる” or “わたしまどじる。” and “わたしまどめる”, etc. The tips for using them are that basically “じる” is used as the meaning of “REVERT SOMETHING BACK” and used for the parts of your body such as “くちじる”, “あしじる”, and “じる”, so you wouldn’t say “くちめる”, “あしめる”, and “める” , whereas “める” is used as the meaing of “REMOVE THE SPACE” such as “まどめる”, “カーテンをめる” and “とびらめる”, so you wouldn’t say “まどじる”, “カーテンをじる” and “扉をじる”. Everybody could use it both in daily conversations as casual and in business situations as formal such as “じて。(Close your eyes.)”, “まどめるね。(I close the window.)” in daily conversations as casual and “じてください。(Please you close your eyes.)”, “まどめますね。(I close the window.)” as polite and formal.

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Sample

yuka

かばんのチャック、まってる (Is the bag zipped up?) (包包的拉链拉上了吗?) (가방 지퍼, 잠겨 있어?) (Khoá cặp đang đóng chứ?) (kaban no chakku, shimatteru?)

tatsuya

ドアはゆっくりめてね。 (Please close the door softly.) (请慢慢关门。) (문은 천천히 닫아줘.) (Hãy đóng cửa từ từ thôi nhé.) (doa wa yukkuri shimete ne!)

yuka

あめってきたから、まどめてくれない? (It’s starting to rain so can you close the window?) (开始下雨了,你能帮我关窗吗?) (비가 오기 시작했으니 창문 좀 닫아주지 않을래?) (Vì trời bắt đầu mưa rồi, cậu đóng cửa sổ giúp mình được không?) (ame ga futte kitakara, mado shimete kurenai?)

tatsuya

カーテンをめていただけますか?太陽たいようまぶしいです。 (Could you close the curtains? The sun is too bright.) (可以麻烦您拉上窗帘吗?太阳太刺眼了。) (커튼을 쳐주실 수 있을까요? 눈이 부셔서요.) (Bạn có thể đóng rèm cửa lại giúp tôi được không? Mặt trời chói mắt quá.) (kāten wo shimete itadake masu ka? taiyō ga mabushī desu.)

yuka

あしなよ。くさ (You should close your legs. haha) (把腿并拢吧。哈哈) (다리 좀 붙혀. 하하.) (Khép chân lại đi. Haha) (ashi toji na yo. kusa)

tatsuya

くちじてべてよ。 (Chew with your mouth closed) (闭上嘴吃饭啦。) (입 닫고 먹으렴.) (Ngậm miệng lại và ăn đi.) (kuchi tojite tabete yo.)

yuka

ピアスのあなちゃった。 (My ear piercings closed.) (耳洞不小心合起来了。) (피어싱 구멍이 막혀버렸어.) (Lỗ đeo hoa tai của tớ bị bít mất rồi.) (piasu no ana ga toji chatta.)

tatsuya

あっ、間違まちがってサイトをじてしまったみたい!ちょっとってくれない? (Oh, I think I closed the website by mistake! Can you wait for a second?) (啊,我好像不小心把网站关掉了!你能等我一下吗?) (아, 착각해서 사이트를 닫아버린 것 같아! 잠시만 기다려 주지 않을래?) (Áaaa, hình như tớ đã tắt nhầm trang web mất rồi. Cậu chờ tớ một tý được không?) (a, machigatte saito wo tojite shimatta mitai! chotto matte kurenai?)

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