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In Duden's explanation of einschließen it says:
durch Abschließen der Tür niemanden zu sich hereinlassen
What does zu sich mean in the above sentence?
I am not able to relate this phrase meaningfully to the sentence. However I assume it may have meaning "towards someone", is that correct?
by locking the door
let nobody in; don't let anybody in
to yourself
- German:
Die Phrase »sich einschließen« bedeutet »durch Abschließen der Tür niemanden zu sich hereinlassen«.- English:
The phrase "lock yourself in" means "don't let anyone in to yourself by locking the door".
You also could lock the door from outside to let nobody in, but this is not the meaning of "sich einschließen". "Sich einschließen" means, that you are in the room that is locked.
The words "zu sich" express a direction. They mean "towards the speaker". Also the prefix "her-" in "hereinlassen" indicates, that the speaker is in the room. (The prefix "her-" means a movement towards the speaker.)
