1.
closing time; store closing for the day
The time when a store or restaurant closes for business each day.
閉店は10時です。
Closing time is 10 o'clock.
閉店時間が近いのでお急ぎください。
Closing time is approaching, so please hurry.
閉店間際に駆け込んで買い物をした。
I rushed in to shop just before closing time.
2.
permanent closure; going out of business
The permanent shutting down of a business.
あの店は来月閉店するらしい。
That store is apparently closing down next month.
閉店セールで半額になっていた。
Everything was half off at the closing sale.
老舗の和菓子屋が後継者不足で閉店することになった。
The long-established Japanese confectionery shop is closing due to lack of a successor.
閉店 has two distinct meanings: daily closing (sense 1) and permanent closure (sense 2). Context usually makes the meaning clear.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 閉店時間: closing time (daily)
- 閉店セール: going-out-of-business sale (permanent)
- 閉店間際: just before closing
- 閉店する: to close
- 閉店ガラガラ: the sound of shutters closing (onomatopoeic)
CONTRAST:
- 開店: opening (opposite)
- 営業終了: end of business hours (formal)
- 廃業: going out of business (formal, permanent)
For permanent closure, 閉店セール is a familiar sight — stores offer deep discounts to clear remaining inventory before shutting down.