关闭

• Pinyin: guān bì
• Hanzi breakdown: 关 = simplified from 關, a gate barrier; 闭 = 门 (door) + 才 — to shut a door tightly

Meaning

To close; to shut down; to turn off. Ending the operation of a device, facility, or service.

More formal and decisive than 关. Used for shutting down businesses (关闭商店), turning off electronics (关闭手机), closing facilities (关闭工厂), and ending digital sessions (关闭网页). Implies a more complete or permanent closure than simply 关.

Examples

1. 飞机起飞前请关闭手机。 Please turn off your phone before the plane takes off.
2. 这家商店因为生意不好已经关闭了。 This shop has already closed down due to poor business.
3. 图书馆每天晚上十点关闭。 The library closes at ten o'clock every evening.

Usage Guide

Context: technology, everyday

Tone: directive

Do Say

• 请关闭所有的窗户和门。(Please close all the windows and doors.)
• 系统将在五分钟后自动关闭。(The system will automatically shut down in five minutes.)

Don't Say

• 关闭你的嘴 (Rude and unnatural — for 'close your mouth,' use 闭嘴 (informal/rude) or 请安静 (polite); 关闭 is for devices, facilities, and services)

Origin & History

关 (to close/barrier, simplified from 關, depicting a gate with a crossbar) + 闭 (to shut, 门 door + 才 inside). Both characters involve closing, reinforcing the concept of shutting down completely.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal