締め切る

しめきる

to close, cancel

JLPT N2

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The verb 締め切る (しめきる) primarily means "to close" or "to set a deadline" for something, such as applications, registrations, or submissions. It is commonly used in formal and business contexts to indicate the end of a period during which something can be done.

Common Contexts

  • Deadlines: 締め切る is often used to talk about deadlines for applications, submissions, or registrations.
  • Closing times: It can also mean closing a place or service at a specific time.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 締め切り (しめきり): noun form meaning "deadline".
  • 締め切りを守る: to meet a deadline.
  • 締め切りを過ぎる: to miss a deadline.
  • 締め切りを延ばす: to extend a deadline.

Register and Nuance

締め切る is neutral to formal and is appropriate in business, academic, and official settings. It implies a firm and final end to the period allowed.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 締め切る with 閉める (しめる), which means "to close" physically (like a door or window). 締め切る is more about deadlines or figurative closing, not physical closing of objects.

Example Sentences

おうぼのしめきりはらいしゅうのきんようびです。

The application deadline is next Friday.

としょかんはごごはちじにしめきります。

The library closes at 8 p.m.

かいぎのさんかもうしこみはきのうでしめきられました。

The registration for the meeting was closed yesterday.