The act or state of fastening or tightening (e.g., a belt, rope); the tightened part or knot.
ロープの締めが甘いと荷物が落ちることがある。
If the rope's fastening is loose, the load can fall.
ネクタイの締めをきつくしすぎて首が苦しい。
I tightened my tie too much and my neck feels tight.
ベルトの締めを緩めて休んだほうがいい。
You should loosen your belt and rest.
The total or sum at a closing (e.g., accounting close); the act of closing a period for totals (closing day).
月末の締めで売上をまとめて報告した。
I compiled and reported the sales at the month-end closing.
今月の締めはまだ終わっていない。
This month's closing hasn't been completed yet.
締めで合計金額を確認してください。
Please check the total amount at the closing.
The conclusion or closing of a gathering (e.g., closing remarks or ritual to end an event).
司会が締めの挨拶をして忘年会はお開きになった。
The host gave closing remarks and the year-end party ended.
最後に一本締めで会を締めましょう。
Let's close the meeting with a 'ippon-jime' (one-clap closing).
会議の締めに今後の予定を確認した。
At the meeting's close we confirmed the upcoming schedule.
The final meal or dish eaten after a drinking party (commonly ramen, ochazuke, etc.).
二次会の後、みんなで締めにラーメンを食べた。
After the second party, everyone ate ramen as the final dish.
今日は〆に雑炊が食べたい気分だ。
Tonight I feel like finishing with zosui (rice porridge).
飲み会の締めは軽めの食べ物が嬉しい。
A light dish is welcome as the final meal after a drinking party.
A dish made by adding rice or noodles to the remaining broth after a hot pot (e.g., zosui); a closing dish in cooking.
鍋の締めはいつも雑炊にする。
I always finish a hot pot with zosui (rice porridge).
うどんを締めに入れて、皆で取り分けた。
We added udon as the closing dish and everyone served themselves.
いい出汁が出ているから、締めは雑炊が合う。
The broth is great, so zosui suits well as the closing dish.
An abbreviated reference to a deadline or closing (cut-off) — used in business for due dates or cutoff days.
見積りの締めは今週金曜日ですのでご注意ください。
Please note the quote's cut-off is this Friday.
請求書は月末締めで処理します。
Invoices are processed with a month-end closing.
この案件の締め時間を教えてください。
Please tell me the cut-off time for this case.
A choking or stranglehold technique in martial arts (e.g., judo chokehold).
道場で新しい締め技の掛け方を習った。
I learned how to apply a new choke technique at the dojo.
試合で相手の締めに気を付けてください。
Be careful of your opponent's chokehold during the match.
The closure mark (〆) written over the sealable flap of an envelope to indicate it has been sealed.
領収書の封筒に〆と書いて渡した。
I wrote 〆 on the receipt envelope and handed it over.
封筒のフラップに〆印を付けて発送した。
I put a 〆 mark on the envelope flap before sending it.
A counter for bundles of materials (wood, cotton, etc.) — a traditional unit for counting bundles.
薪を三締めほど用意しておいた。
I prepared about three bundles of firewood.
古い文献には綿の締めで数量が記されていることがある。
Old documents sometimes record quantities using 'shime' for cotton bundles.
A counter for reams of Japanese writing paper (hanshi), where one 'shime' equals 2,000 sheets — an old unit.
この店では半紙を一締め単位でまとめ売りしている。
This shop sells hanshi in units of one 'shime' (per 2,000 sheets).