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March 24, 2026
开水(開水)kāishuǐ(kai1shui3)
开水 refers to boiled water, commonly used in everyday contexts like making tea or cooking. It is essential in Chinese dining culture, where hot water is often preferred over cold water for health reasons. The term literally translates to 'open water,' indicating that the water has been heated and is ready for use.
Strokes8Frequency#22997DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, drinking hot water is a common health practice believed to aid digestion and improve well-being. Many restaurants provide 开水 as a complimentary drink, reflecting its cultural significance.
Memory Tip
Picture a kettle boiling on the stove, steam rising like an 'open' invitation to drink. The character 开 (kāi) means 'to open,' while 水 (shuǐ) means 'water.' Together, they create a vivid image of water that is opened or made ready for consumption.
Meanings of 开水
kāishuǐ(kai1shui3)
1boiled water
2boiling water
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 开水
开水Simplified
開水Traditional
8Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#22997Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 开水
Podcast: 开水
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AI Study Notes for 开水
Usage Notes
Learners may confuse 开水 with 冷水 (lěng shuǐ), which means 'cold water.' It's important to use 开水 in contexts involving hot beverages or cooking. The term is informal; in formal settings, one might specify 'boiled water' more explicitly.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 开水 connects with other food and drink vocabulary. Students should focus on using it in sentences related to dining or health practices, enhancing their speaking skills in daily scenarios.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 开水 with 生水 (shēng shuǐ), which means 'raw water' or unboiled water. Remember, 开水 is safe and ready for drinking, while 生水 is not.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 开水
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How Well Do You Know 开水?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 开水 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
开水 refers to boiled water, commonly used in everyday contexts like making tea or cooking. It is essential in Chinese dining culture, where hot water is often preferred over cold water for health reasons. The term literally translates to 'open water,' indicating that the water has been heated and is ready for use.
When to use 开水
Learners may confuse 开水 with 冷水 (lěng shuǐ), which means 'cold water.' It's important to use 开水 in contexts involving hot beverages or cooking. The term is informal; in formal settings, one might specify 'boiled water' more explicitly.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 开水 with 生水 (shēng shuǐ), which means 'raw water' or unboiled water. Remember, 开水 is safe and ready for drinking, while 生水 is not.
Write 开水
开
水
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Grammar Patterns of 开水
开水 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
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