How to Write 闭 (bì) — Meaning “to close / to shut”

Imagine a door (门) that you must close tightly so that your talent (才) does not escape. The character looks like a door frame with the crossbar of 'talent' blocking the opening.

First write the radical 门 (door) as two strokes: the left vertical stroke, then the hook and horizontal. Inside, write 才 with three strokes: horizontal, vertical hook, then a left-falling stroke. The inner 才 should be centered and not touch the door frame, keeping a balanced square shape.

闩 (shuān) means 'to bolt' or 'a latch' — it shows a door (门) with a single horizontal stroke (一) across it, like a crossbar. 闪 (shǎn) means 'to dodge' or 'a flash' — it has 人 (person) inside the door, suggesting someone quickly entering or exiting. In contrast, 闭 uses 才 (talent) inside, emphasizing shutting something in.

闭 appears in common expressions like 关闭 (guān bì) 'to close/shut down' for doors, shops, or computers, and 闭嘴 (bì zuǐ) 'shut up' which is direct and impolite. It also forms 闭眼 (bì yǎn) 'to close one's eyes', often used to mean 'ignore' or, in some contexts, 'to die' (closing one's eyes permanently).

Common words containing 闭 include: 关闭 (guān bì) — To close; to shut down; 闭眼 (bì yǎn) — to close one's eyes; 闭嘴 (bì zuǐ) — Shut up / Be quiet.