阖 (hé) - To close & shut

阖Tone 2

hé ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

阖 · hé

To close;

shut;

whole;

entire;

used in classical Chinese as a respectful term for 'your' (referring to a household or family).

To closeshutwhole

Usage highlights

Close the doorEntire familyShut the eyesClose up shopWhole nationClose the book

Synonyms

  • 关— to close; shut
  • 闭— to close; shut
  • 合— to close; join
  • 全— whole; entire

Antonyms

  • 开— to open
  • 启— to open; start
  • 分— to divide; separate

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Please close the door (阖上门).
  • The entire family attended the celebration (阖家团圆).
  • He shut the window to keep out the cold (阖窗御寒).
  • The shop closes at 9 PM (店铺晚上九点阖门).

Collocations

  • Close the door(阖户)
  • Entire family(阖家)
  • Shut the eyes(阖眼)
  • Close up shop(阖店)
  • Whole nation(阖国)
  • Close the book(阖书)

Idioms

  • The whole family is reunited(阖家团圆)
  • Close the door and reflect on one's faults(阖门思过)
  • The entire country celebrates(举国同庆，阖国欢腾)
  • Close the eyes and rest(阖目养神)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, '阖家' (entire family) is commonly used in festive greetings, especially during Chinese New Year.
  • The character carries classical elegance and is often found in literary contexts rather than daily conversation.
  • As a respectful term, it was historically used to refer to someone else's household in formal address.

FAQ