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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.
Frequency#1819DifficultyMedium
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
—Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 走开
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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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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Cultural Notes for 走开
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Frequently Asked Questions about 走开
No, it is quite informal and can be seen as rude in certain contexts.
It’s better to use a more polite expression like '请让一下' (please let me through) in that situation.
走开 emphasizes the action of moving away from a specific spot, while 离开 (líkāi) means 'to leave' a place more generally.
