guānmén: 关门 - To Close a Door, To Close Down (a business)

• Keywords: 关门, guanmen, close the door in Chinese, go out of business Chinese, closing time Chinese, shop closing Chinese, 关门 meaning, learn Chinese verb, Chinese for beginners
• Summary: The Chinese term 关门 (guānmén) is a versatile and essential verb for beginners. Its most literal meaning is “to close a door,” but it's more frequently used in a figurative sense to mean a business is “closing for the day” or “going out of business” permanently. Understanding when 关门 refers to a daily routine versus a permanent shutdown is key to mastering its practical use in everyday conversation.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): guānmén
• Part of Speech: Verb Phrase (Verb-Object structure)
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: To close a door; for an establishment to close for the day or shut down permanently.
• In a Nutshell: At its heart, 关门 (guānmén) is about the simple action of shutting a physical door. Chinese extends this concrete image to the world of business. When a shop closes for the night, it “closes its door.” When it fails and shuts down for good, it also “closes its door,” but for the last time. The context tells you whether the closing is temporary or permanent.

• 关 (guān): This character's primary meaning is “to close,” “to shut,” or “to turn off.” You can think of it as depicting a gate or a barrier being put in place.
• 门 (mén): This is a pictograph of a double-leaf door. It's one of the most straightforward characters, directly meaning “door” or “gate.”
• The two characters combine literally to mean “close the door.” This direct, physical meaning serves as the foundation for all its figurative uses.

While 关门 is a highly practical term, its use reflects a certain linguistic concreteness. Instead of an abstract phrase like “to cease operations,” the language uses the tangible, visual act of shutting the shop door. A noteworthy cultural phrase is 关门大吉 (guānmén dàjí). Literally, this means “close the door, great fortune.” It's an ironic or darkly humorous euphemism for a business going bankrupt. The use of 大吉 (dàjí), a term typically reserved for auspicious events like weddings or grand openings, creates a sense of sarcastic finality. It’s like saying “Well, we're closing down for good, and isn't that just wonderful?” This reflects a common type of Chinese humor that uses auspicious terms in unfortunate situations. Compared to the English “to go out of business,” 关门 feels more personal and final. “Going out of business” is a financial statement; 关门 is a physical action. It evokes the image of the owner locking the door one last time, making it feel more grounded and less corporate.

关门 is used constantly in daily life. The meaning is almost always clear from the context.

This is the most basic usage, often in commands or simple descriptions.

• Context: At home, in an office, in a car.
• Formality: Neutral.
• Example: “外面太吵了，请把门关上。” (It's too noisy outside, please close the door.) Note: Often used as 关上 (guānshàng) to emphasize the result.

This is extremely common when talking about any kind of establishment with business hours.

• Context: Asking about shops, restaurants, banks, parks, libraries.
• Formality: Neutral.
• Example: “超市几点关门？” (What time does the supermarket close?)

This usage refers to a permanent closure, usually due to financial or other issues.

• Context: Discussing local news, the economy, or a favorite spot that has disappeared.
• Formality: Neutral, but the topic itself can be serious.
• Connotation: Negative or sympathetic.
• Example: “那家我最喜欢的面馆关门了，真可惜。” (My favorite noodle shop closed down, what a pity.)

• Example 1:
  • 天冷，请关门。
  • Pinyin: Tiān lěng, qǐng guānmén.
  • English: It's cold, please close the door.
  • Analysis: A simple, direct, and literal command. This is the most basic usage of the term.
• Example 2:
  • 你出去的时候记得关门。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ chūqù de shíhòu jìdé guānmén.
  • English: Remember to close the door when you go out.
  • Analysis: A common household reminder. Here, 关门 is the action to be remembered.
• Example 3:
  • 请问，你们几点关门？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, nǐmen jǐ diǎn guānmén?
  • English: Excuse me, what time do you (all) close?
  • Analysis: A crucial phrase for any tourist or resident. This asks about the daily closing time of a business.
• Example 4:
  • 银行下午五点就关门了。
  • Pinyin: Yínháng xiàwǔ wǔ diǎn jiù guānmén le.
  • English: The bank closes at 5 PM.
  • Analysis: Stating a fact about business hours. The particle “了 (le)” here indicates a recurring, completed action within a timeframe.
• Example 5:
  • 街角那家咖啡店上个月关门了。
  • Pinyin: Jiējiǎo nà jiā kāfēi diàn shàng gè yuè guānmén le.
  • English: That coffee shop on the corner closed down last month.
  • Analysis: Here, the context “last month” makes it clear this is a permanent shutdown, not just closing for the day. The “了 (le)” marks a completed action in the past.
• Example 6:
  • 因为疫情，很多餐厅都关门了。
  • Pinyin: Yīnwèi yìqíng, hěnduō cāntīng dōu guānmén le.
  • English: Due to the pandemic, many restaurants have closed down.
  • Analysis: A clear example of 关门 meaning “go out of business” on a larger scale.
• Example 7:
  • 快点儿，图书馆马上就要关门了！
  • Pinyin: Kuài diǎnr, túshūguǎn mǎshàng jiù yào guānmén le!
  • English: Hurry up, the library is about to close!
  • Analysis: The structure “马上就要…了 (mǎshàng jiù yào…le)” indicates an imminent action, in this case, the daily closing.
• Example 8:
  • 他们的关门时间是晚上十点。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de guānmén shíjiān shì wǎnshàng shí diǎn.
  • English: Their closing time is 10 PM.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 关门 functions as part of a noun phrase, “关门时间” (closing time), rather than a verb.
• Example 9:
  • 听说那个工厂经营不善，快要关门大吉了。
  • Pinyin: Tīngshuō nàge gōngchǎng jīngyíng bùshàn, kuàiyào guānmén dàjí le.
  • English: I heard that factory is poorly managed and is about to close down for good.
  • Analysis: This showcases the ironic idiom 关门大吉 (guānmén dàjí), adding a touch of finality and sarcasm.
• Example 10:
  • 我们到的时候，商店已经关门了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen dào de shíhòu, shāngdiàn yǐjīng guānmén le.
  • English: When we arrived, the store had already closed.
  • Analysis: “已经 (yǐjīng)…了 (le)” emphasizes that the action of closing is complete. This could mean closed for the day or permanently, depending on the broader context.

• Mistake 1: Ambiguity without Context.

A learner might hear “关门了 (guānmén le)” and panic, thinking their favorite shop is gone forever.

• Incorrect Assumption: “那家店关门了” always means “That shop went out of business.”
• Correction: This sentence is ambiguous. If it's 10 PM, it almost certainly means “The shop has closed for the night.” If you're discussing it with a friend months later, it means “The shop went out of business.” Context is everything.
• Mistake 2: Confusing 关 (guān) and 关门 (guānmén).

The character 关 (guān) means “to close” or “to turn off,” but it needs an object. 关门 is a set phrase for doors and businesses.

• Incorrect Usage: “请你关门电视。” (Please close the TV.)
• Correct Usage: “请你关电视。” (qǐng nǐ guān diànshì) or “请你把电视关了。” (qǐng nǐ bǎ diànshì guān le). Use 关 for electronics, lights, and faucets, and 关门 for doors and businesses.
• False Friend: “Closed” (adjective).

In English, we say “The door is closed.” A direct translation is awkward.

• Incorrect Usage: “门是关门。” (Mén shì guānmén.)
• Correction: To describe the state of being closed, you should say “门是关着的。” (Mén shì guān zhe de.) The particle “着 (zhe)” indicates a continuous state. 关门 is the action of closing.

• 开门 (kāimén) - The direct antonym: to open the door; to open for business.
• 倒闭 (dǎobì) - A more formal and severe synonym for going out of business, often implying bankruptcy.
• 歇业 (xiēyè) - A formal term meaning to cease business operations. It can be temporary (e.g., for a holiday) or permanent.
• 关上 (guānshàng) - A resultative verb meaning “to close shut.” It emphasizes that the action of closing was successfully completed. Example: “请把门关上。”
• 关灯 (guān dēng) - To turn off the light. A good example of how 关 (guān) is used with other objects.
• 关机 (guān jī) - To turn off a machine, especially a computer or phone (lit. “close machine”).
• 营业时间 (yíngyè shíjiān) - Business hours. This tells you when a business will 开门 and 关门.
• 关门大吉 (guānmén dàjí) - An ironic idiom for a business closing down permanently.