Difference between 閉める vs 閉じる

[Pep95]

Hello!

I recently learned both the vocabulary for 閉める and 閉じる, both of which mean “to close”, but I can’t really put my finger on what the difference between these two terms are. In the example sentences 閉める has a sentence about closing a bottle with a cap, while the 閉じる sentence talks about closing a laptop. Does anyone know the distinction between these two words? Thanks!

[Kazzeon]

What I saw on jisho, is that 閉じる can be transitive and intransitive, while 閉める is transitive.
閉じる also seems more versatile to use. close eyes, a meeting, etc.
You usually hear 閉める as close a door, a book.
That may just be my experience, though.

There’s this, but I don’t know how much you can trust it.
http://nihongo24.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-8.html

Also this:

• 閉しめる – transitive. To (physically) close something.
  「ドアを閉める」 close a door
  「門を閉める」 close a gate
  「店を閉める」 close a shop / shut down a business
• 閉とじる – transitive / intransitive.
  intransitive: “for something to close” “to come to an end”
  「ドアが閉じる」 a door closes
  「つぼみが閉じる」 a flower bud closes
  「店が閉じる」 a shop/business closes permanently
  「会が閉じる」 a meeting ends
  transitive: “to close something” “to bring something to an end”
  「目を閉じる」 close one’s eyes
  「口を閉じる」 close one’s mouth
  「傘を閉じる」 close an umbrella
  「店を閉じる」 shut down a business permanently
  「歴史を閉じる」 end its history
  「生涯を閉じる」 end one’s lifetime -> to die

According to this dictionary, 閉じる is more used with 目, 口, 本, 傘, and 閉める with 引き出し, 門.

[Leebo]

@Pep95

I recently learned both the vocabulary for 閉める and 閉じる, both of which mean “to be closed”

閉める is “to close (transitively).” Never “to be closed.”

[Pep95]

Woops sorry, I got confused there. I meant that both mean “to close”.