HSK · Level 2
130 words
Chinese word
闭
Pronunciation
Pinyinbì
Meaning
- verbclose
Example
她闭着眼睛休息。tā bì zhe yǎn jīng xiū xī
She rests with her eyes closed.
More examples
那家书店因为租约到期，下个月就要闭店。nà jiā shū diàn yīn wèi zū yuē dào qī xià gè yuè jiù yào bì diàn
That bookstore will close next month because its lease expires.
Core concept
An opening is brought to a stop, cutting off passage, sight, or activity.
Common phrases
闭店bì diàn
close a shop
闭市bì shì
close a market
Similar words
关guān: Shut a door or use a switch or handle to stop passage or power.
关闭guān bì: End the operation or access of a machine, program, facility, or passage.
合上hé shàng: Close a book, box, or lid by bringing its open sides together.
封闭fēng bì: Block a place or route completely so that entry, exit, and communication stop.
Definition in Chinese
使门、窗、眼睛等的开口合上或封闭，使通行或视线受阻的动作或状态。shǐ mén chuāng yǎn jīng děng de kāi kǒu hé shàng huò fēng bì shǐ tōng xíng huò shì xiàn shòu zǔ de dòng zuò huò zhuàng tài
Word origin
The simplified form 闭 (bì, "to close") comes from a traditional character whose gate component suggests a blocked entrance, while its other component mainly supplies the sound.
Usage tips
- In casual conversation, the ordinary verb for shutting a door is often more natural, while this word is especially common in descriptions of closing the eyes and in fixed expressions.