Japanese word

締め切る

Pronunciation

Romajishimekiru

Meaning

  • verbclose

Example

冬は窓を締め切ります。fuyu wa mado o shi me ki ri ma su

We keep the windows shut in winter.

Illustration for 締め切る (close)

More examples

煙が入らないように、裏口を締め切りました。kemuri ga hai ra na i yō ni ura guchi o shi me ki ri ma shi ta

I shut the back door so that smoke would not get in.

Core concept

Describes shutting something firmly and keeping it closed so that air, light, passage, or access is blocked.

Common phrases

  • 戸を締め切るto o shi me ki ru

    shut the door tightly

  • 雨戸を締め切るama do o shi me ki ru

    close the storm shutters

Similar words

閉めるshimeru: Closes an opening or object and leaves it shut.
閉じるtojiru: Brings something into a closed position, with the result that it is no longer open.
塞ぐfusagu: Blocks an opening, route, or passage so that movement through it is prevented.

Definition in Japanese

窓や戸などをしっかり閉じたままにする。mado ya to na do o shi kka ri to ji ta ma ma ni su ru

Word origin

締める (shimeru, "tighten or close") and 切る (kiru, "cut") combine in 締め切る (shimekiru) to express closing something off firmly and completely.

Usage tips

  • The English phrase keep the windows shut often matches 締め切る (shimekiru) better than simply close the windows when they remain closed.

Other meanings

  • close offverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word