zu|gehen
Translation
to close, to shut, to happen, to approach
Examples
Die Tür geht von alleine zu.
The door closes by itself.
Hier geht es lustig zu.
It's lively here.
Er ging direkt auf den Chef zu.
He went straight up to the boss.
Der Brief ist Ihnen gestern zugegangen.
The letter reached you yesterday.
Grammar Patterns
to close The door is closing slowly.
((auf+4)) to approach sb./sth. Approach the person and ask.
es geht ((adverb)) zu to be ... (atmosphere) The party was very loud.
((sb.dat)) to reach sb., to be received by sb. The package reached him yesterday.
Similar Words
Synonyms: schließen (to close), geschehen (to happen), sich nähern (to approach), erhalten (to receive)
Etymology
From 'zu' (towards, closed) and 'gehen' (to go). It can mean 'to go towards' someone or 'to go to' a closed state.
Memory Tips
Imagine a door 'going to' (gehen) a closed state (zu), or a person 'going to' (gehen) another person (zu).