Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI close | ||
| NegativeI don’t close |
JAPANESE VERB
しめる
閉める
to close
- #68 most used
- Ichidan verb (ru-verb)
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI closed | ||
| NegativeI didn’t close |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formclosing, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am closing | ||
| Please (て ください)please close |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can close | ||
| NegativeI can’t close |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to close | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to close |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s close |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I close
- If, when (たら) if I close
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) close (do it)
- Plain command close!
- Please don’t please don’t close
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am closed | ||
| CausativeI make someone close |
How to use しめる
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
さむい から、 まど を しめます。
It's cold, so I'll close the window.
-
Past
でる とき、 ちゃんと ドア を しめた。
When I left, I closed the door properly.
-
Te-form
すみません、 ドア を しめて ください。
Excuse me, please close the door.
-
Potential
この まど、 かたくて しめられません。
This window's stiff, I can't close it.
-
Want to
うるさい から、 まど を しめたい。
It's noisy, I want to close the window.
-
Volitional
かぜ が つよい。 カーテン を しめよう。
The wind's strong. Let's close the curtains.
-
Conditional
ドア を しめれば、 しずか に なります。
If you close the door, it gets quiet.
-
Commands and requests
おふろ の ドア を しめなさい。
Close the bathroom door.
-
Passive and causative
みせ は まいばん はちじ に しめられます。
The shop is closed every evening at eight.
Good to know
- しめる closes a door, a window or a shop; しまる is when it closes by itself: みせ は くじ に しまります.
Where you hear しめる
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Beginner Level 2
- さむい ひ は まど を しめます。 I close the windows on cold days.
- ねる まえ に まど を しめました。 I closed the windows before going to bed.
- でかける まえ に まど を しめます。 I'll close the windows before going out.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: ichidan verb (ru-verb).