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关

关 (guān) Chinese Character: close, turn off

6 strokes · HSK 1 · Radical 丷

Slide the bolt into place and close the gate.

Practice 关 in the interactive lesson

Chinese character story: Close the Gate

关 (guān) is the simplified form of 關. The traditional character showed a gate secured from inside. That is why 关 can mean “close,” “turn off,” or a guarded pass. It also appears in 有关, “to be related,” as if two ideas are connected by the same gate.

🧩 Word buildingSee what every part contributes

Chinese words often combine short meaning clues. Fixed expressions are clearly marked so you do not translate them too literally.

关门
关close门door=close the door
关灯
关switch off灯light=turn off the light

Chinese character origin and etymology

关 is documented as a basic character form. Its earlier written forms gradually became the regular-script shape used today.

In modern simplified Chinese, 关 is written with 6 strokes. This lesson separates documented shape history from the memory story so learners do not mistake a mnemonic for a historical claim. 关 works as one complete form rather than a puzzle made from smaller modern components. Learning its overall silhouette is useful because the same shape may later appear inside more complex characters.

Chinese character stroke order and structure

关 is written with 6 strokes. Learn the complete stroke sequence in the interactive lesson, then write the character from memory before checking your answer.

  • 关 — simplified form of 關, “to close / a pass”

Common usage and sentence patterns

The examples below show 关 in complete beginner-friendly sentences. Read each sentence aloud, notice where the character appears, and then replace one noun or number to create a new sentence of your own.

请关门。 Qǐng guān mén. Please close the door.
出门前关灯。 Chūmén qián guān dēng. Turn off the light before leaving.
这件事和我有关。 Zhè jiàn shì hé wǒ yǒuguān. This matter concerns me.

Learning tips for 关

Learn the reading as one unit: guān, with the first tone: high and level. Avoid memorizing the letters without the tone mark. Say the syllable, recall the English meaning “close, turn off,” and write the 6 strokes from memory.

Because 关 is a basic form, focus on its proportions and stroke direction. Compare it with 开 (kāi, open — the opposite of 关); 关系 (guānxi, relationship); 关心 (guānxīn, care about). Similar characters are easier to remember when their different parts and meanings are studied side by side.

Quick review checklist

  • Can you recognize 关 without pinyin?
  • Can you say guān with the correct tone and explain “close, turn off”?
  • Can you write all 6 strokes in order?
  • Can you use 关 in one short sentence?

Related characters

Learn 关 in a themed collection

Compare this character with related beginner words. A themed path helps you notice useful pairs, word-building patterns, and everyday contexts.

🏃 Essential Chinese Verbs

Continue learning Chinese characters

Use the Chinese radicals and components guide to understand reusable parts, the stroke order guide to improve handwriting, and the HSK 1 character overview to choose your next beginner lesson.

Sources and editorial note

HanziStory separates documented character history from modern memory stories. Historical-form images are shown only when a matching source file is available; missing stages are skipped rather than invented. Stroke practice uses HanziWriter data.

Last updated: August 12, 2026. Read our sources, editorial method, and correction policy.