閉める vs. 占める (Shimeru): To Close/Shut vs. To Occupy/Account For
Both 閉める and 占める are read shimeru (しめる). Compare Gate (閉) vs Fortune Booth (占) with Shibashi's illustrated kanji flashcards.
When you hear しめる (shimeru), beginners immediately think of 閉める (to close a door or window). But in news articles, business Japanese, and JLPT N3/N2 reading passages, you will constantly see 占める (しめる — to occupy a seat/space, or to account for a percentage)!
Quick Comparison: 閉 (Closed) vs. 占 (Fortune) vs. 門 (Gate) vs. 店 (Store)
Compare 閉 (Closed) from the Gate (門) family with 占 (Occupy / Fortune-telling) from the Mini-Store (店) family.
| Kanji & Meaning | Primary Readings (Bold = Primary) | Shibashi Visual Mnemonic Hook | Common Compound Word |
|---|---|---|---|
| 閉 — Closed | On: へい Kun: し, と |
Gate (門) bolted shut = Closed / To shut (閉める) | 閉める (しめる) — to close, to shut |
| 占 — Fortune | On: せん Kun: し |
Flag/stick over booth (口) = to occupy a spot / fortune-telling (占める) | 占める (しめる) — to occupy; to hold; to ac... |
| 門 — Gate | On: もん Kun: と, かど |
Two swinging saloon doors = Gate radical | 門 (もん) — gate |
| 店 — Store | On: てん Kun: みせ |
Roof awning (广) over 占 = Shop / Store (みせ / てん) | 店員 (てんいん) — employee (of a store), sh... |
Illustrated Kanji Flashcards(Tap Readings for Audio)
閉 (へい / しめる) places a crossbar bolt inside the swinging doors of 門 (Gate) — physically shutting a door or gate. 占 (せん / しめる) shows a divination stick (卜) over a mouth/booth (口) — staking out a spot to set up a fortune-teller's stall! Put a roof over 占 and that staked-out stall becomes a permanent 店 (Shop/Store).
Essential Japanese Vocabulary Words Using 閉 / 占 / 門 / 店
Once you can recognize 閉 (Closed) and 占 (Fortune) and 門 (Gate) individually, lock them into your active reading vocabulary with these high-frequency Japanese words from the Shibashi app:
| Japanese Word | Hiragana Reading | English Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 閉める | しめる | to close, to shut | JLPT |
| 閉まる | しまる | to be closed, to shut | JLPT |
| 閉じる | とじる | to close, to shut | JLPT |
| 占める | しめる | to occupy; to hold; to account for | JLPT |
| 占有 | せんゆう | possession; occupation | JLPT |
| 門 | もん | gate | JLPT |
| 店員 | てんいん | employee (of a store), shop assistant, clerk, salesperson | JLPT |
| 閉店 | へいてん | closing shop, going out of business | JLPT |
5-Second Memory Summary: How to Never Mix Up 閉 & 占 & 門 Again
閉める (Gate 門 + bolt) = to shut a door. 占める (staked-out booth 占) = to occupy space or make up a share.
