閉じる vs 閉める: To Close a Book vs To Close a Door

Yuka

When do I say 閉じる and when do I say 閉める? Both mean “close,” right?

Rei

Both mean close, but 閉じる is for things that fold or shut naturally — like a book, your eyes, or a file. 閉める is for physically closing something with a mechanism — like a door or a window.

What Does 閉じる (tojiru) Mean?

閉じる means to close in the sense of something coming together or shutting — especially for things that open flat (like a book), soft things (like eyes or a mouth), or abstract things (like a file, app, or wound). It is an intransitive-ish verb often used for gentle or natural closing.

• 本を閉じた。 — I closed the book.
• 目を閉じて。 — Close your eyes.
• 傷口が閉じた。 — The wound closed up.
• ファイルを閉じる。 — To close a file (computer).
• 口を閉じなさい。 — Close your mouth. / Keep quiet.

What Does 閉める (shimeru) Mean?

閉める means to close or to shut in a physical, mechanical sense. It is used for doors, windows, lids, shutters — things that have hinges, tracks, or latches. It implies a deliberate physical action to shut something.

• ドアを閉めてください。 — Please close the door.
• 窓を閉める。 — To close the window.
• 店を閉める。 — To close the store (for the day).
• 蓋を閉める。 — To close the lid.
• カーテンを閉める。 — To close the curtains.

Key Differences

Yuka

What about 口 — can I use both?

Rei

Yes! 口を閉じる often has a softer or metaphorical feel (“fall silent”, “stop talking”), while 口を閉める is more physical and firm (“shut your mouth!”). In practice they overlap for ‘mouth.’

Common Mistakes

• ✗ ドアを閉じる — Rare and unnatural. Use 閉める for doors.
• ✗ 本を閉める — Sounds odd. Use 閉じる for books.
• Note: 閉まる (shimaru, intransitive) = the door closes by itself; 閉める (shimeru, transitive) = you close the door.

Quick Quiz

Fill in: 閉じる or 閉める?

• 1. 寝るときは目を___ね。 (Close your eyes when you sleep.)
• 2. 寒いから窓を___て。 (It’s cold, so close the window.)
• 3. 読み終わったら本を___て。 (Close the book when you’re done reading.)
• 4. 仕事が終わったら店を___。 (Close the store when work is done.)

Answers: 1. 閉じ　2. 閉め　3. 閉じ　4. 閉める

📖 Want to take your Japanese further? Practice speaking with a professional Japanese tutor on italki — affordable 1-on-1 online lessons at your own pace.

Summary

あわせて読みたい

通る vs 渡る: To Pass Through vs To Cross Over 通る (tooru)渡る (wataru)MeaningTo pass through / go alongTo cross over (a barrier, boundary, or gap)NuanceMovement along a path or through a spaceMovement a...

あわせて読みたい

Chigai vs Chigau Test Both 違い（ちがい） and 違う（ちがう） come from the same root and are often translated as "difference" or "to differ" in English. But learners frequently mi...