閉とざす

と

ざ

す

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

shut; close; fasten; lock

Physical act of closing something firmly, such as a door, gate, or lid. Often implies a tight or secure closure.

彼かれは門もんを固かたく閉とざした。
He shut the gate firmly.
窓まどを

閉と

ざし

て

、

部屋へや

を

暖あたた

かく

保たも

っ

た

。

I closed the windows and kept the room warm.

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

block; close off

Used for blocking a passage, entrance, or road, often by an obstacle or barrier.

大おお雪ゆきが村むらへの道みちを閉とざした。
Heavy snow blocked the road to the village.

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

shut in; cut off; cover

Usually used in the passive voice. Describes being isolated or enveloped by natural elements like snow, ice, or darkness.

山やま小ご屋やは深ふかい雪ゆきに閉とざされていた。
The mountain hut was shut in by deep snow.
街まちは闇やみに閉とざされた。
The town was covered in darkness.

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

consume with; fill with; bury in

Usually used in the passive voice. Describes being overwhelmed or consumed by negative emotions such as sadness or grief.

彼かの女じょは深ふかい悲かなしみに閉とざされていた。
She was consumed by deep sadness.

Written forms

閉とざすUsage90%
Standard kanji spelling for all senses.
とざすUsage9%
鎖とざすUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; 閉ざす is strongly preferred.

Kanji

閉closed, shut
鎖chain, irons, connection

Similar words

閉しめる
閉める is the common everyday word for 'to close' (a door, window, etc.). 閉ざす implies a firmer, more complete, or more figurative closure.
塞ふさぐ
塞ぐ means 'to block' or 'to plug' a hole or opening. 閉ざす focuses on closing off an entrance or passage, often with a sense of isolation.

Etymology

Compound of 閉 (to, 'shut') + ざす (suffix indicating a state or action). The exact derivation of ざす is uncertain, but it may be related to classical verb forms indicating a resulting state.