German Phrase
Bleib von den sich schließenden Türen weg.
Meaning
A direct warning telling someone to keep clear of doors that are in the process of closing. It is often heard in places with automatic or sliding doors, such as train stations, elevators, or industrial settings.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to alert a person (or a group) that a door is about to shut and that staying close could be dangerous. It can also be used metaphorically to advise staying away from a situation that is ending or becoming inaccessible.
✦Grammar Breakdown
BleibvondensichschließendenTürenweg
Bleib
Imperative singular of *bleiben*; used to give a direct command to one person.
von
Preposition that always governs the dative case; here it introduces the area to stay away from.
den
Definite article in dative plural; matches *Türen*.
sich schließenden
Present participle of the reflexive verb *sich schließen*; declined to dative plural to agree with *Türen*.
Türen
Feminine plural noun, dative case after *von*.
weg
Adverb placed at the end of the clause, meaning ‘away’ or ‘off’ and reinforcing the command.
🗨In Conversation
Entschuldigung, darf ich noch schnell durch?
Excuse me, may I get through quickly?
Bleib von den sich schließenden Türen weg!
Stay away from the doors that are closing!
✕Common Mistakes
Bleib von den sich schließende Türen weg.
The participle must be declined to dative plural to match *Türen* → *sich schließenden*.
Bleib aus den sich schließenden Türen weg.
The correct preposition for ‘away from’ in this construction is *von*, not *aus*.
Bleibe von den sich schließenden Türen weg.
When giving a direct command to one person, use the short imperative *Bleib*, not the longer *Bleibe*.
↔Alternatives
Halte Abstand von den schließenden Türen.
Keep a distance from the closing doors.
Geh nicht zu den Türen, die sich schließen.
Don’t go to the doors that are closing.
Bleib von den schließenden Türen fern.
Stay away from the closing doors.
Cultural Tip
German safety instructions are typically short, imperative, and to the point. Adding *weg* at the end adds extra emphasis, a common pattern in warnings (e.g., *Geh weg!*, *Bleib weg!*). In formal settings you might soften the command with *Bitte* or use a more polite construction, but in urgent safety contexts the blunt imperative is preferred.