掲示板 Forums - what's the difference between 閉まる and 閉める?

One is transitive the other is intransitive.

閉める to close [something] (transitive verb)

閉まる to be closed (intransitive)

Transitive verbs act on objects, so the object they act on is labelled with the を object marker. e.g. 戸を閉めた。I shut the door.

Intransitive verbs don't act on other objects. 戸は閉まります。The door will close.

If you click on the (intransitive) or (transitive) beside a verb in the dictionary it has a little blurb.

Thanks for the explanation 😊