Learn a Chinese Character - 关

1. Character Basics

Radical: 门/mén (door), 关/guān (close)

Stroke Count: 6

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Guān (First tone)

3. Meaning

Basic Meaning: To close; to shut; to turn off; to关 (guān); to关上门 (close the door); to关灯 (turn off the light)

Extended Meaning: To shut down; to close up; to关店 (close a shop); to关窗 (close the window); to关怀 (care for); to关键 (key; crucial)

4. Common Words

• 关门 (guān mén) - to close the door; to close a business

  商店已经关门了。 (The shop is already closed.)

• 关心 (guān xīn) - to care for; to be concerned about

  我们应该关心老人和孩子。 (We should care for the elderly and children.)

• 关闭 (guān bì) - to close; to shut down

  那家工厂因为亏损而关闭了。 (That factory closed down due to losses.)

• 关键 (guān jiàn) - key; crucial; critical

  这是解决问题的关键。 (This is the key to solving the problem.)

• 海关 (hǎi guān) - customs (officials); customs house

  我们需要在海关办理入境手续。 (We need to go through customs procedures.)

5. Grammar & Usage

As a Verb:

• 关+Object: 关门 (close the door), 关灯 (turn off the light), 关窗 (close the window)
• 关+up/in: 关起来 (lock up), 关在里面 (lock inside), 关在外面 (lock outside)
• 被+关: 被关在门外 (be locked outside), 被关在房间里 (be locked in the room)

Common Structures:

• 关心+sb/sth: 关心他 (care about him), 关心时事 (care about current affairs), 关心环境 (care about the environment)
• 关键+是+Clause: 关键是要努力 (the key is to work hard), 关键是方法正确 (the key is the right method)
• 把关 (bǎ guān): 严格把关 (strictly control), 质量把关 (quality control)

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, the character 关 has rich symbolic meanings. One of the most notable is its association with the concept of boundaries and protection, as seen in traditional Chinese architecture where doors (门) serve as important barriers between the inside and outside.

The character 关 is also used in many idioms and proverbs that reflect Chinese values. For example, 关怀备至 (guān huái bèi zhì) means to show extreme care and concern, emphasizing the importance of looking after others in Chinese society.

Additionally, 关 plays an important role in Chinese history, with many famous passes and fortresses named with this character, such as 山海关 (Shanhai Pass) and 嘉峪关 (Jiayu Pass), which were crucial defensive structures in ancient China.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

1. Decomposition Method:

关 is composed of 门 (mén) meaning "door" and 关 (guān) meaning "close". Together, they represent the action of closing a door.

2. Association Method:

Imagine closing a door tightly - this action is what "关" represents. You can also associate it with turning off lights or other appliances.

3. Word Group Method:

Remember the character by learning related words:

• 关门 (guān mén) - to close the door
• 关心 (guān xīn) - to care for
• 关键 (guān jiàn) - key; crucial

4. Image Method:

Picture a traditional Chinese door being closed securely, or visualize the action of turning off a light switch. This visual image can help you remember both the character and its meaning.