Meaning and Usage
The verb 閉まる (しまる) means "to close" or "to be closed" and is used when something shuts by itself or is in a closed state. It is an intransitive verb, so the subject closes without a direct object.
Common Contexts
You often hear 閉まる used for doors, windows, shops, or events that close at a certain time. For example, "店のドアが閉まる" means "the store's door closes."
Collocations and Patterns
- ドアが閉まる: the door closes
- 窓が閉まる: the window closes
- 店が閉まる: the shop closes
- 会議が閉まる: the meeting ends
These phrases are common in daily conversation and announcements.
Register and Politeness
閉まる is neutral and commonly used in both casual and polite speech. When making polite statements, it is often combined with ます form: 閉まります.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 閉まる (intransitive) with 閉める (しめる), which is the transitive verb meaning "to close (something)." Remember, 閉まる describes something closing by itself, while 閉める means someone closes something.