闭关 (bì guān) — to close the border (of a country); to seclude oneself, to go into retreat

Definition

闭关 is a verb meaning to seal oneself off — literally 'close the gate.' It has two main uses: a country closing its borders (闭关锁国), or a person going into retreat for deep study, meditation, or writing.

verb
to close the border (of a country)to seclude oneselfto go into retreat

Examples

  • ，。
    Tā zài shān lǐ bì le sān gè yuè de guān, zhuān xīn xiě shū.
    He secluded himself in the mountains for three months, focusing on writing a book.
  • 闭关。
    Lì shǐ shàng zhè ge guó jiā céng jīng shí xíng guò bì guān zhèng cè.
    Historically, this country once implemented a closed-border policy.
  • 闭关，。
    Tā jué dìng bì guān yí gè yuè, bù jiē diàn huà yě bú jiàn rén.
    He decided to go into retreat for a month, not answering calls or seeing anyone.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

闭bìclose
关guānpass

闭 means to shut, 关 the pass or gate, so it describes closing the border.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 閉; 闭 is its simplified writing.

  • 門門méndoor
  • 材材cáimaterial; timber

The traditional form 閉 pairs 門 (door) with 材 (material; timber); the simplified 闭 is a later shorthand, so its right side is not the historical component.

Open 闭 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 關; 关 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
門門méndoor
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢇅
𢇅𢇅關guān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 关, the traditional form 關 shows 門 as a door and 𢇅 as two wooden sticks locking it, with ring-like marks on top.

Open 关 →

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