What is the difference between "閉める" and "湿る"?

"閉める" means "to close (something)" (N5), whereas "湿る" represents "to get wet, to become damp" (N4).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "しめる (shimeru)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

しめる (shimeru)

N5 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

しめる (shimeru)

N4 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "しめる (shimeru)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

閉める (Level: N5): Translates to "to close (something)" and is used when Transitive verb.
湿る (Level: N4): Maps to "to get wet, to become damp" and carries the nuance of Intransitive verb. Used when something naturally becomes damp or moist, often due to weather or environment. Commonly refers to clothes, air, ground, or food items losing crispness..

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "閉める"

窓を閉めてください。

Please close the window.

Bilingual Context for "湿る"

雨が降って、洗濯物が湿ってしまった。

It rained, and the laundry got damp.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "窓を閉めてください。" (Meaning: "Please close the window.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "閉める" is used for "to close (something)" in the context: "Please close the window.".