关 (guān) means "shut" with 6 strokes, radical 八 (eight), HSK 1 on the new exam.
Pronunciation
Meaning
Primary: shut
Etymology
Oracle-bone origin
关 is the simplified form of traditional 關, which in seal script shows a gate 門 with a crossbar and two looped cords inside representing a door bolt or locking mechanism. The pictograph is of a gate secured shut rather than an abstract concept.
Form evolution
Oracle-bone evidence for 關 itself is limited, but bronze and seal forms clearly show the 門 enclosure with the bolt component 丱 inside. Clerical script regularised the interior bolt, and the 1950s simplification stripped away the 門 entirely, keeping only a reduced form of the interior as 关.
How the meaning evolved
The original meaning was the physical act of barring a gate, which extended to 'close, shut' generally, and from there to mountain passes (places controlled by gates), customs barriers, and by further extension to 'concern, connection' as in 关系. The modern senses of 'turn off' (关灯) and 'be related to' both descend from this core image of a controlled passage.
Cultural note
关 appears in the surname 关, most famously borne by Guan Yu (关羽), the Three Kingdoms general deified as a god of loyalty and martial virtue. The simplification is controversial among traditional users because it discards the 門 component that makes the gate imagery obvious.
Mnemonic
Horns closing over heaven — to close, to relate
Decomposition
Breaking a character into its components makes it far easier to recall. Each component above links to its own detail page.
Basic info
| Pinyin | guān |
| Meanings | shut |
| Stroke count | 6 strokes |
| Radical | 八 (#12: eight) |
| New HSK exam | Recognise at HSK 1 |
| Frequency | #141 most common |
Example sentences
Words containing 关
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 没关系 | méi guānxì | it doesn't matter | HSK 1 |
| 关 | guān | shut | HSK 3 |
| 关于 | guānyú | about | HSK 3 |
| 关心 | guānxīn | Care for | HSK 3 |
| 关系 | guānxì | relationship | HSK 3 |
| 关键 | guānjiàn | key | HSK 4 |
| 关闭 | guānbì | close; shut | HSK 5 |
| 海关 | hǎiguān | Customs | HSK 5 |
| 相关 | xiāngguān | correlate | HSK 5 |
| 把关 | bǎguān | to guard a pass, to check on | HSK 7-9 |
| 闭关 | bìguān | to close the passes, to isolate | |
| 公关 | gōngguān | public relations | HSK 7-9 |
Related characters
Similar meaning (abstract)
On the new HSK 1 exam
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.