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開 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
開kāito open; to start, to initiate, to beginzg, 12 strokes, radical 門
kāi(kai1)kai T1
  1. 1to open; to start, to initiate, to begin
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March 24, 2026

開kāi(kai1)

The character 開 (kāi) means 'to open' or 'to start' and is commonly used in various contexts, such as opening a door, starting a meeting, or initiating an event. It conveys a sense of beginning or unlocking something, both literally and metaphorically.

Strokes12Radical門
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 'opening' is often associated with new beginnings, such as the Lunar New Year, which symbolizes the opening of a new year and fresh opportunities.

Memory tip

Imagine a big gate (which resembles the character 開) swinging open to let in fresh air and light. The sound 'kāi' can be associated with the excitement of starting something new, like a new adventure or opportunity.

Meanings of 開

kāi(kai1)
1to open; to start, to initiate, to begin
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 開 means.

About 開

開Simplified
12Strokes
門Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 開

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Podcast: 開

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AI study notes for 開

Quick Contrast

开 (kāi) vs 启 (qǐ) — use 开 for physical openings or starting actions, while 启 is more abstract, often meaning to enlighten or initiate a process.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 開 (kāi) with 關 (guān), which means 'to close.' This word is used in both formal and informal contexts, such as in business meetings or casual conversations. Common collocations include 開會 (kāi huì, 'to hold a meeting') and 開始 (kāi shǐ, 'to begin').

HSK Study Tips

Although 開 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other HSK Level 1 and 2 words related to actions and beginnings. Focus on using it in simple sentences to practice its application in daily life.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 開 (kāi) with 關 (guān), mistakenly using them interchangeably. For example, saying 開門 (kāi mén) for 'to close the door' is incorrect; it should be 關門 (guān mén).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 開

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Etymology of 開

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 開. Pictograph of two hands opening the bolt on a door. The traditional component 門 was removed for simplification.

Memory hint

gate

Semantic (meaning)門
+
Phonetic (sound)开
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

開 = 門 + 开. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 開

IDS Structure⿵門开
開Full character
=
門men2
enclosing
开kai1
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 開?

How to say to open; to start, to initiate, to begin in Chinese

“to open; to start, to initiate, to begin” in Chinese is開kāi

The character 開 (kāi) means 'to open' or 'to start' and is commonly used in various contexts, such as opening a door, starting a meeting, or initiating an event. It conveys a sense of beginning or unlocking something, both literally and metaphorically.

When to use 開

Be careful not to confuse 開 (kāi) with 關 (guān), which means 'to close.' This word is used in both formal and informal contexts, such as in business meetings or casual conversations. Common collocations include 開會 (kāi huì, 'to hold a meeting') and 開始 (kāi shǐ, 'to begin').

開 or something close to it

开 (kāi) vs 启 (qǐ) — use 开 for physical openings or starting actions, while 启 is more abstract, often meaning to enlighten or initiate a process.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 開 (kāi) with 關 (guān), mistakenly using them interchangeably. For example, saying 開門 (kāi mén) for 'to close the door' is incorrect; it should be 關門 (guān mén).

Write 開

開

Practice writing 開 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 開

Words containing this character20
开始kāishǐto begin開始
开kāito open開
离开líkāito depart離開
开心kāixīnto feel happy開心
开发kāifāto develop開發
打开dǎkāito open打開
开展kāizhǎnto launch開展
公开gōngkāipublic公開
召开zhàokāito convoke召開
开枪kāiqiāngto open fire開槍
开放kāifàngto bloom開放
展开zhǎnkāito unfold展開
放开fàngkāito let go放開
开车kāichēto drive a car開車
开玩笑kāiwánxiàoto play a joke開玩笑
分开fēnkāito separate分開
开口kāikǒuto open one's mouth開口
开门kāiménto open for business開門
走开zǒukāito leave走開
开通kāitōngto open up (windows for air, ideas for discussion, transportation routes etc)開通
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 開

What does 开始 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 開

You can say 開門 (kāi mén) to mean 'to open the door'.

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