閉 meaning and stroke order
To shut, to close; to obstruct, to block
How to write 閉, stroke by stroke
11 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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- 11
Meaning of 閉
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to close
- to stop up
- to shut
- to obstruct
How 閉 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A door 門 blocked by bars 才.
Radical: 門 (gate), shared by 42 characters on this site.
How to remember 閉
Picture a door 門 (mén) with bars 才 placed across the opening, so nobody can get through. A barred door is a shut door, which is why 閉 means to close or block.
閉 (bì) is mostly used in compound words like 关闭 (guānbì, to close) and 倒闭 (dǎobì, to go bankrupt), and with body parts like eyes and mouth. Example: 请闭上眼睛。(Qǐng bìshang yǎnjing.) Please close your eyes.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 閉 (bì, to close) with 閑 (xián, idle), which has 木 inside the door instead of 才. Also, for everyday doors and windows people usually say 关门 (guān mén), not 闭门, which sounds literary.
Common words with 閉
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 關閉 | guānbì | to close; to shut (a window etc); (of a shop, school etc) to shut down | HSK 4 |
| 封閉 | fēngbì | to close; to seal off; to close down (an illegal venue) | HSK 4 |
| 倒閉 | dǎobì | to go bankrupt; to close down | HSK 4 |
| 閉幕 | bìmù | the curtain falls; lower the curtain | HSK 5 |
| 閉幕式 | bìmùshì | closing ceremony | HSK 5 |
| 閉嘴 | bìzuǐ | Shut up!; same as 閉上嘴巴|闭上嘴巴 | |
| 閉上 | bìshang | to close; to shut up | |
| 閉路電視 | bìlùdiànshì | closed-circuit television | |
| 緊閉 | jǐnbì | to close securely; tightly closed | |
| 閉眼 | bìyǎn | to close one's eyes; (fig.) to die; to pass away | |
| 關禁閉 | guānjìnbì | to put in detention (a soldier, a pupil) | |
| 自閉症 | zìbìzhèng | autism | |
| 閉著 | bìzhe | closed |
Questions about 閉
How many strokes are in 閉?
閉 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 閉 mean?
閉 (bì) means to shut, to close; to obstruct, to block. A common word with it is 关闭 (guānbì), meaning "to close; to shut (a window etc); (of a shop, school etc) to shut down".
How do you pronounce 閉?
閉 is pronounced bì, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 閉?
The radical of 閉 is 門, which carries the idea of "gate". Dictionaries list 閉 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 閉?
閉 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 闭, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 关 (guān) and 闭 (bì)?
关 is the everyday verb for closing doors, windows, or turning off devices. 闭 is used for closing eyes and mouth, as in 闭眼 (bì yǎn), and in more formal compounds like 闭幕 (bìmù).
Is 闭嘴 (bìzuǐ) rude?
Yes, 闭嘴 means Shut up and sounds harsh. To ask someone politely to be quiet, say 请安静 (qǐng ānjìng).