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走开 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
走开zǒukāito leaveHSK 2, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #1819, Easy
走开zǒukāito walk awayHSK 2, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #1819, Easy
走开zǒukāito beat itHSK 2, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #1819, Easy
走开zǒukāito move asideHSK 2, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #1819, Easy
zǒukāi(zou3kai1)zou kai T3
  1. 1to leave
  2. 2to walk away
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March 24, 2026

走开(走開)zǒukāi(zou3kai1)

走开 (zǒu kāi) is a colloquial expression meaning 'to leave' or 'to move aside.' It is often used in informal contexts to tell someone to go away or to create space, typically when someone is in the way or causing annoyance.

Strokes11Frequency#1819DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, directness can sometimes be perceived as impolite. Therefore, using 走开 may be acceptable among friends but can be offensive in a more formal setting or with strangers.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person named 'Zou' who is always in the way. You tell him to 'move aside' (走开) so you can pass. The character 走 (zǒu) resembles a person walking, and 开 (kāi) means 'to open' or 'to clear,' which helps you remember the meaning of moving away.

Meanings of 走开

zǒukāi(zou3kai1)
1to leave
2to walk away
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About 走开

走开Simplified
走開Traditional
11Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

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Podcast: 走开

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AI Study Notes for 走开

Quick Contrast

走开 (zǒukāi) vs 离开 (líkāi) — use 走开 for a more casual, immediate command to move away, while 离开 is more formal and can imply leaving a place.

Usage Notes

While 走开 is informal, it can sometimes come off as rude depending on tone and context. Be cautious using it with people you don't know well. Common collocations include '走开一点' (move aside a bit) and '请你走开' (please go away).

HSK Study Tips

Though 走开 is not explicitly listed in HSK vocabulary, it incorporates basic characters from earlier levels (走 and 开). Students should focus on recognizing these components and their meanings to enhance their understanding of similar phrases.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 走开 with 离开. For example, saying '我走开去家' (I move away to home) instead of '我离开家' (I leave home) is incorrect. Remember, 走开 is for creating space, while 离开 refers to departing.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 走开

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Component Characters

走zǒuto walk
HSK 27 strokes走
View full entry
开kāito open
HSK 14 strokes廾
View full entry

How to say to leave in Chinese

“to leave” in Chinese is走开zǒukāi

走开 (zǒu kāi) is a colloquial expression meaning 'to leave' or 'to move aside.' It is often used in informal contexts to tell someone to go away or to create space, typically when someone is in the way or causing annoyance.

When to use 走开

While 走开 is informal, it can sometimes come off as rude depending on tone and context. Be cautious using it with people you don't know well. Common collocations include '走开一点' (move aside a bit) and '请你走开' (please go away).

走开 or something close to it

走开 (zǒukāi) vs 离开 (líkāi) — use 走开 for a more casual, immediate command to move away, while 离开 is more formal and can imply leaving a place.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 走开 with 离开. For example, saying '我走开去家' (I move away to home) instead of '我离开家' (I leave home) is incorrect. Remember, 走开 is for creating space, while 离开 refers to departing.

Write 走开

走
开

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Frequently Asked Questions about 走开

No, it is quite informal and can be seen as rude in certain contexts.

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