To Close Something
To Close
intransitive verb, transitive verb, ichidan verb
Another verb version of the kanji 閉! This is a special one that can be either transitive or intransitive, so 閉じる means to close something or to close.
閉じる is for returning things that have expanded open back to their closed state. It's used for books, umbrellas, web browsers, and even eyes and mouths. There are some overlaps with 閉める (you can 閉じる or 閉める a gate, for example) but 閉める is mostly used for things like doors, windows, and curtains.
The reading is different from 閉める or 閉まる. Instead, 閉じる is read とじる.
Why? Because to close something that's expanded or spread open, you always use your toe (と)! It's easy enough with books, but umbrellas are a real challenge… But you, you can do it! You have the toe-tal control and can close anything expanded to the way it was before.
本を閉じる
to close the book
ページを閉じる
to close the book, to close a paper document
まぶたを閉じる
to shut one's eyelids
画面を閉じる
to close the screen
口を閉じる
to close one's mouth
目を閉じる
to close one's eyes
スマホでブラウザってどうやって閉じるんですか？
How do you close a browser on a smartphone?
あ！シオリをはさむ前にページを閉じちゃった。
Whoops! I closed the book before putting in the bookmark.
急にパソコンの画面が勝手に閉じちゃったんです。
The computer screen suddenly closed on its own.