Windows and curtains
Collocations, Stage 2chunk 10 of 24Home & daily routine
The same open/close pair on windows and curtains: airing the room, shutting out rain or cold, closing up for the night.
- mado o akeruopen the window
- mado o shimeruclose the window
- kaaten o shimeruclose the curtains
Mix-ups English 'draw the curtains' hides the direction; Japanese names it: kaaten o shimeru (close) or kaaten o akeru (open). Windows take the same akeru/shimeru as doors, with mado aiteru for the open state.
mado o akeru
polite mado o akemasuopen the window
窓を開ける まどをあける 窓を開けます
verbakeru 開けるopen something (a door, a box, your eyes)typical 14% of mado
trap Not mado ga akete iru for 'the window's open': that is mado ga aiteru, or mado ga akete aru if someone left it open on purpose. akeru needs someone doing the opening (mado akete ii?).
Usually an offer or a question: mado akete ii? (mind if I open the window?), mado akeyou ka. Casual speech drops o; a window that is open is mado aiteru.
atsui ne, mado akete ii?
It's hot, mind if I open the window?
暑いね、窓開けていい？
atsui desu ne, mado o akete mo ii desu ka?
It's hot, isn't it? May I open the window?
暑いですね、窓を開けてもいいですか？
In a car, mado akete just means put the window down.
Same verb: doa (door), kaaten (curtains), reizouko (fridge)Learn alongside: doa o akeru, doa o shimeru, doa ga aku, doa ga shimaru, mado o shimeru, kaaten o shimeru, me o tojiru (Stage 4)Main list: -te mo ii (Stage 3)
mado o shimeru
polite mado o shimemasuclose the window
窓を閉める まどをしめる 窓を閉めます
verbshimeru 閉めるshut something (a door, a window, a lid); with kagi, locktypical 5% of mado
trap Not mado o shimaru: shimaru is the window closing or being shut (mado shimatteru); someone shutting it is shimeru (mado shimete).
Said when it turns cold or noisy or starts to rain: mado shimete (shut the window). Casual speech drops o; a shut window is mado shimatteru.
ame futte kita, mado shimete!
It's started raining, shut the windows!
雨降ってきた、窓閉めて！
ame ga futte kita node, mado o shimete kudasai.
It's started to rain, so please close the windows.
雨が降ってきたので、窓を閉めてください。
mado shimeta? is a standard check before going out, alongside kagi kaketa?
Same verb: doa (door), kaaten (curtains), futa (lid)Learn alongside: doa o akeru, doa o shimeru, doa ga aku, doa ga shimaru, mado o akeru, kaaten o shimeru, me o tojiru (Stage 4)
kaaten o shimeru
polite kaaten o shimemasuclose the curtains
カーテンを閉める カーテンをしめる カーテンを閉めます
verbshimeru 閉めるshut something (a door, a window, a lid); with kagi, locktypical 30% of kaaten
Said in the evening or when the sun is in your eyes: kaaten shimete (close the curtains). Casual speech drops o; opening them in the morning is kaaten o akeru.
mabushii kara, kaaten shimete.
It's too bright, close the curtains.
まぶしいから、カーテン閉めて。
mabushii node, kaaten o shimete kudasai.
It's bright, so please close the curtains.
まぶしいので、カーテンを閉めてください。
The state is kaaten shimatteru (the curtains are shut) or kaaten aiteru (open).
Same verb: amado (storm shutters), shattaa (shutters), futa (lid)Learn alongside: doa o akeru, doa o shimeru, doa ga aku, doa ga shimaru, mado o akeru, mado o shimeru, me o tojiru (Stage 4)Main list: -te (Stage 2)