關

guān

frontier pass; to close; relation/concern

Meaning

Concrete: A strategic mountain pass or gated checkpoint (marking state control/demarcation); a mechanical bolt, latch, or gate; an anatomical joint or articulation point.
Action: To shut or secure an opening; by extension, to terminate or obstruct a process.
Abstract: A link or intersection between entities; concern or involvement (often appearing as 關乎); a critical juncture or decisive moment.

Grammar and usage

Noun: Refers to a location (pass), object (bolt/lock), anatomical part (joint), or abstract concept (juncture).
Transitive Verb: To shut, close, or lock.
Relational Verb: To concern or relate to; may appear as a direct relationship or be mediated by particles such as 乎 (//hu//).

History and forms

Variants: Semantic variants U+5BE1, U+95A2, and U+95D7 are functionally equivalent in ancient contexts. Simplified variant: U+5173.

Graphical notes

The glyph’s structure centers on the concept of a portal or gate (門) being controlled or secured. This visual logic underpins the duality of the glyph as both a barrier (shutting out) and a point of access (connecting two spaces).

Decontextualized translator aid. This page describes plausible lexical range; it does not choose what the glyph means in a particular passage.