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

2020年11月6日2022年8月15日

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閉とじる vs. 閉しめる: The Words Learners Get Confused

What is the difference between “閉とじる(tojiru) and 閉しめる(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!

閉とじる (tojiru) / 閉しめる (shimeru)

Close / 关闭, 关闭 / 닫기, 닫는다 / Khép, Đóng

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

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Sample

yuka

かばんのチャック、閉しまってる？ (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

ドアはゆっくり閉しめてね。 (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

雨あめが降ふってきたから、窓まど閉しめてくれない？ (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

カーテンを閉しめていただけますか？太陽たいようが眩まぶしいです。 (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

足あし閉とじなよ。草くさ (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

口くち閉とじて食たべてよ。 (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

ピアスの穴あなが閉とじちゃった。 (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閉とじてしまったみたい！ちょっと待まってくれない？ (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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