Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "閉めます", "閉じる", "肉薄", "手近"
All represent the core concept "close", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
閉めます
しめます (shimemasu)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
閉じる
とじる (tojiru)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
肉薄
にくはく (nikuhaku)
N2 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
手近
てぢか (tejika)
N2 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "close" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "閉めます", "閉じる", "肉薄", "手近" based on context.
- 閉めます (しめます (shimemasu) - Level: N5): Maps to "to close" and is used when Transitive verb. Used for closing doors, windows, books, shops, eyes, etc. The object is marked with を..
- 閉じる (とじる (tojiru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to close (transitive); to shut" and is used when 本や目、傘などを閉める際に使います。ドアや窓には「閉める」を使うことが多いですが、お店を閉めるなどの場合にも使われます。.
- 肉薄 (にくはく (nikuhaku) - Level: N2): Maps to "to close in on, to press hard, to nearly catch up with" and is used when Implies approaching someone/something very closely, often with a sense of pursuit, urgency, or intensity. Can be physical.
- 手近 (てぢか (tejika) - Level: N2): Maps to "close at hand, handy, accessible, familiar" and is used when すぐ手の届く範囲にあること、または簡単に利用できること。身近で慣れているという意味でも使われます。.
Context for "閉めます"
ドアを閉めます。
I close the door.
Context for "閉じる"
私は疲れたので、目を閉じました。
I was tired, so I closed my eyes.
Context for "肉薄"
彼はライバルに肉薄し、優勝争いを繰り広げた。
He pressed hard against his rival, engaging in a fierce competition for the championship.
Context for "手近"
手近なもので朝食を済ませた。
I finished breakfast with what I had close at hand.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
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" is correct here because it represents "to close" in the context: "I close the door.".