to hold closed
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to hold closed
To cover something with your hands or an object and keep it closed in order to prevent something from entering or escaping. Often used reflexively or with body parts.
Sie musste sich die Ohren zuhalten, weil die Musik so laut war.
She had to hold her ears closed because the music was so loud.
'Zuhalten' (to hold closed) is a separable verb. The prefix 'zu' comes at the end of the sentence in main clauses and, in the infinitive with 'zu', is written directly before 'halten' (to hold).
Er hält sich die Nase zu.
He holds his nose closed.
When you hold one of your own body parts closed, a reflexive construction with the dative is used: the reflexive pronoun is in the dative, and the body part is in the accusative.
Halte dir die Augen zu, nicht schauen!
Cover your eyes, don't look!
In its most common meaning, 'zuhalten' (to hold closed) is used with body parts that are openings. Typical examples are 'die Ohren' (the ears), 'die Nase' (the nose), 'den Mund' (the mouth), or 'die Augen' (the eyes).
Als sie den starken Geruch roch, hielt sie sich sofort die Nase zu.
When she smelled the strong odor, she immediately held her nose closed.
In the meaning 'sich zubewegen' (to move toward), 'zuhalten' is always used with the preposition 'auf' and an accusative object. This usage is less common today.
Das Auto hielt direkt auf uns zu.
The car was heading straight toward us.
to cover
'bedecken' and 'zuhalten' can both mean that something lies over an opening or surface. 'bedecken' is more general: a surface is covered, often without anyone holding anything in place. 'zuhalten' is used when you hold an opening closed with your hand or an object. Usually, the goal is to prevent something from getting in or out, for example air, water, smoke, or a sound. If it is only about covering something, 'bedecken' fits. If something is being actively held closed, 'zuhalten' is more precise.
Beim Husten hält sich das Kind den Mund zu.
When coughing, the child covers their mouth.
Wegen der Kälte bedeckt eine Folie die jungen Pflanzen im Garten.
Because of the cold, a sheet covers the young plants in the garden.