Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "閉めます" vs "申し込む"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
閉めます
しめます (shimemasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
申し込む
もうしこむ (mōshikomu)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both 閉めます and 申し込む are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
閉めます (しめます (shimemasu)) represents "to close" (Level: N5) and typically represents Transitive verb. Used for closing doors, windows, books, shops, eyes, etc. The object is marked with を..
On the other hand, 申し込む (もうしこむ (mōshikomu)) translates to "to apply for, to make a reservation, to subscribe" (Level: N4) and is used for イベント参加やサービス利用など、何かを正式に願い出ること。他動詞。/ To formally request something, such as participating in an event or using a service. Transitive verb.. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "閉めます"
ドアを閉めます。
I close the door.
Bilingual Sentence for "申し込む"
来月の旅行の予約を申し込みました。
I applied for a reservation for next month's trip.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "ドアを ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "I close the door.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "閉めます" fits here because it represents "to close" in the context: "I close the door.".