Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "閉めます" vs "続ける"
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
続ける
つづける (tsuzukeru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both 閉めます and 続ける 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, 続ける (つづける (tsuzukeru)) translates to "to continue (something)" (Level: N4) and is used for Transitive verb. To keep doing something, or to prolong an action.. 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 "続ける"
日本語の勉強を続けます。
I will continue studying Japanese.
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.".