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March 24, 2026
关(關)guān(guan1)
The character 关 (guān) primarily means 'to close' or 'to shut.' It is commonly used in the context of closing doors, windows, or other objects. Additionally, it can refer to matters of concern or involvement, such as being related to someone or something.
Strokes6Radical丷Frequency#560DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, closing doors is often associated with security and the concept of protecting one's home and family. It is common to hear phrases like '关门放狗' (close the door and release the dog), indicating vigilance.
Memory Tip
Imagine two doors (representing the character's shape) being shut tightly at a mountain pass, symbolizing the concept of closure. The sound 'guān' can be linked to the image of a guard (关) at a checkpoint, ensuring everything is closed off and secure.
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AI Study Notes for 关
Quick Contrast
关闭 (guānbì) vs 关 (guān): use 关闭 for a more formal or complete sense of shutting something down, while 关 is more casual and can imply a broader sense of concern or involvement.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine two doors (representing the character's shape) being shut tightly at a mountain pass, symbolizing the concept of closure. The sound 'guān' can be linked to the image of a guard (关) at a checkpoint, ensuring everything is closed off and secure.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 关 (guān) with the similar-sounding 观 (guān), which means 'to observe.' This character is used in both formal and informal contexts, and it often appears in phrases like '关门' (to close the door) or '关心' (to care about).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 关 connects well with other action verbs such as 开 (kāi, to open) and 走 (zǒu, to go). Students should focus on using it in practical sentences related to daily activities.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, closing doors is often associated with security and the concept of protecting one's home and family. It is common to hear phrases like '关门放狗' (close the door and release the dog), indicating vigilance.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 关 when referring to opening something. For example, saying '我关窗' (wǒ guān chuāng) instead of '我开窗' (wǒ kāi chuāng) which means 'I open the window.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 关
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Phonosemantic compound. 門 represents the meaning and 𢇇 represents the sound. The simplified character 关 was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 關. The traditional component 門 was removed for simplification.
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Grammar Patterns of 关
关 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
When you came away you made a definite effort to mix.
Cultural Notes for 关
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, closing doors is often associated with security and the concept of protecting one's home and family. It is common to hear phrases like '关门放狗' (close the door and release the dog), indicating vigilance.
Word Family of 关
Compounds46
送song4to deliver
联lian2to ally
卷juan3to roll up
拳quan2fist
腾teng2to soar
券quan4bond (esp. document split in two, with each party holding one half)
郑Zheng4Zheng state during the Warring States period
眷juan4to take an interest in; to care for
滕Teng2an ancient state in Shandong province
朕zhen4the royal "we", for imperial use
咲
巻
誊teng2to copy, to transcribe
劵juan4certificate, ticket; title deed
豢huan4domestic animal; to feed, to raise
関
騰teng2to fly, to soar; to gallop, to prance; rising, steaming
塍cheng2a raised path between fields, a dike
帣
弮juan4a repeating crossbow
眹
縢
螣
賸
飬juan4to offer a sacrifice
餋
鲞xiang3dried fish
黱
儯
堘
奍
栚
桊juan4ash tree
浂
漛
潫
烪
牶
畻
絭
觠
韏
駦
驣
鮝
鰧
Words Containing This Character20
关系guānxìrelation關係
关于guānyúpertaining to關於
有关yǒuguānto relate to有關
关注guānzhùto pay attention to關注
关guānto close關
相关xiāngguānrelated相關
关心guānxīnto care about關心
没关系méiguānxiit doesn't matter沒關係
关键guānjiàncrux關鍵
机关jīguāngear機關
无关wúguānunrelated無關
关闭guānbìto close關閉
关掉guāndiàoto switch off關掉
关联guānliánrelated關聯
关门to close a door關門
关上guānshàngto close (a door)關上
关节guānjiékey point關節
公安机关public security bureau公安機關
关怀guānhuáicare關懷
无关紧要wúguānjǐnyàoindifferent無關緊要
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 送 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 关
You can use it like this: '请关门' (qǐng guān mén) which means 'Please close the door.'
No, it can also mean to be concerned or involved in something, such as in '我关心你' (wǒ guān xīn nǐ) meaning 'I care about you.'
关 is more commonly used in everyday language, while 关闭 (guān bì) is more formal and typically used in written contexts.
