Character

开

kāi HSK 1

开 kāi HSK 1

1. to open (something closed, opposite of 关/合)
2. to open up; to blaze (a path, etc.)
3. to spread out or unfold; (of joined things) to separate
4. to thaw; to melt (frozen things)
5. to lift or remove (a blockade, prohibition, restriction, etc.)
6. to start (an engine); to operate (a vehicle, ship, aircraft, etc.)
7. (of troops) to set out; to march
8. to begin; to start
9. a surname
10. karat (unit of gold purity; 24 karats = pure gold)
11. abbreviation for kelvin (K); 1 K = 1/273.16 of the thermodynamic temperature of the triple point of water
12. (printing) a fraction of a full sheet of paper (e.g. 16-mo, 32-mo)
13. to found; to establish
14. to pay; to disburse
15. (of liquid) to boil; to come to a boil
16. to write out (a receipt, list, letter, etc.)
17. to expel; to dismiss
18. to hold (a meeting, symposium, exhibition, etc.)
19. (colloq.) to eat heartily; to eat without restraint
20. (used after a verb) indicating direction or result: 1. apart or expanded; 2. beginning and continuing; 3. having enough room for

Words using 开 as kāi (51)

1 开车 kāi chē — to drive HSK 1
- 开 to operate, to start
- 车 vehicle, car
Example

我爸爸每天开车上班。

wǒ bà ba měi tiān kāi chē shàng bān

My dad drives to work every day.
2 开始 kāi shǐ — to start, to begin HSK 2
- 开 to open, to initiate
- 始 to begin, beginning
Example

电影已经开始了。

diàn yǐng yǐ jīng kāi shǐ le

The movie has already started.
3 开学 kāi xué — school starts; start of school term HSK 2
- 开 to start; to begin; to open
- 学 school; studies; learning
Example

我们下周一开学。

wǒ men xià zhōu yī kāi xué

We start school next Monday.
4 打开 dǎ kāi — to open HSK 2
- 打 action prefix combining with 开 to form the compound verb
- 开 open; provides the core meaning of opening
Example

请打开门。

qǐng dǎ kāi mén

Please open the door.
5 分开 fēn kāi — to separate HSK 3
- 分 to divide, to separate
- 开 apart, to open up (space)
Example

我们需要把这些书分开。

wǒ men xū yào bǎ zhè xiē shū fēn kāi

We need to separate these books.

Show more (+46)

6 开会 kāi huì — to have a meeting HSK 3
- 开 to hold, to conduct (provides the action of starting/holding)
- 会 meeting (the object being held)
Example

经理正在开会，请稍等。

jīng lǐ zhèng zài kāi huì qǐng shāo děng

The manager is in a meeting, please wait a moment.
7 开心 kāi xīn — happy HSK 3
- 开 to open
- 心 heart
Example

她今天很开心。

tā jīn tiān hěn kāi xīn

She is very happy today.
8 开机 kāi jī — to turn on (a device/machine) HSK 3
- 开 to turn on, to start
- 机 machine, device
Example

请先开机，等系统启动完成。

qǐng xiān kāi jī děng xì tǒng qǐ dòng wán chéng

Please turn on the device first and wait for the system to finish starting.
9 开花 kāi huā — to bloom HSK 3
- 开 to open, to unfold
- 花 flower
Example

春天到了，花园里的花都开花了。

chūn tiān dào le huā yuán lǐ de huā dōu kāi huā le

Spring has arrived, the flowers in the garden have all bloomed.
10 离开 lí kāi — to leave HSK 3
- 离 to separate from, away from
- 开 to move apart, to depart
Example

他明天要离开这个城市。

tā míng tiān yào lí kāi zhè ge chéng shì

He will leave this city tomorrow.
11 开玩笑 kāi wán xiào — to joke HSK 4
- 开 to start, to initiate (the action of joking)
- 玩 to play, fun (indicating non-serious activity)
- 笑 laughter, humor (completing the meaning of joking)
Example

我只是开玩笑，别当真。

wǒ zhǐ shì kāi wán xiào bié dàng zhēn

I'm just joking, don't take it seriously.
12 召开 zhào kāi — to convene, to hold (a meeting) HSK 5
- 召 to summon, to call (together)
- 开 to open, to begin, to start
Example

公司明天召开重要会议。

gōng sī míng tiān zhào kāi zhòng yào huì yì

The company will hold an important meeting tomorrow.
13 展开 zhǎn kāi — to unfold HSK 5
- 展 to stretch out, to extend
- 开 to open, to spread apart
Example

他展开了一幅美丽的画卷。

tā zhǎn kāi le yī fú měi lì de huà juǎn

He unfolded a beautiful scroll.
14 开业 kāi yè — to open for business HSK 5
- 开 to open, to start
- 业 business operations
Example

这家餐厅下个月开业。

zhè jiā cān tīng xià gè yuè kāi yè

This restaurant will open for business next month.
15 开发 kāi fā — to develop HSK 5
- 开 to open, to start
- 发 to develop, to expand
Example

他们开发了一款新应用程序。

tā men kāi fā le yī kuǎn xīn yìng yòng chéng xù

They developed a new application.
16 开展 kāi zhǎn — to carry out; to launch HSK 5
- 开 to open; to start; to initiate
- 展 to spread out; to unfold; to develop
Example

学校开展了环保活动。

xué xiào kāi zhǎn le huán bǎo huó dòng

The school carried out environmental protection activities.
17 开幕 kāi mù — to open (a ceremony/event), to inaugurate HSK 5
- 开 to open, to start
- 幕 curtain (metaphor for ceremony)
Example

奥运会明天开幕。

ào yùn huì míng tiān kāi mù

The Olympics will open tomorrow.
18 开幕式 kāi mù shì — opening ceremony HSK 5
- 开 to open, to begin
- 幕 curtain, act (theatrical metaphor for event)
- 式 ceremony, formal event
Example

奥运会开幕式非常壮观。

Ào yùn huì kāi mù shì fēi cháng zhuàng guān

The Olympic opening ceremony was very spectacular.
19 开放 kāi fàng — to open up; open HSK 5
- 开 to open
- 放 to release, to let go
Example

这个公园每天早上六点开放。

zhè ge gōng yuán měi tiān zǎo shang liù diǎn kāi fàng

This park opens at six o'clock every morning.
20 开水 kāi shuǐ — boiled water HSK 5
- 开 boiled, to boil (refers to heating water until it boils)
- 水 water (the substance being boiled)
Example

请给我一杯开水。

qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi kāi shuǐ

Please give me a cup of boiled water.
21 开通 kāi tōng — to open (a service), to activate HSK 5
- 开 to open, to start
- 通 through, connected, operational
Example

公司刚刚开通了新的客服热线。

gōng sī gāng gāng kāi tōng le xīn de kè fú rè xiàn

The company just opened a new customer service hotline.
22 公开 gōng kāi — public HSK 6
- 公 public, open to all
- 开 to open, to reveal
Example

会议是公开的，任何人都可以参加。

huì yì shì gōng kāi de rèn hé rén dōu kě yǐ cān jiā

The meeting is public, anyone can attend.
23 开关 kāi guān — switch HSK 6
- 开 open, turn on
- 关 close, turn off
Example

请按一下墙上的开关。

qǐng àn yí xià qiáng shàng de kāi guān

Please press the switch on the wall.
24 开创 kāi chuàng — to pioneer, to initiate HSK 6
- 开 to open, to start
- 创 to create, to establish
Example

他开创了一个新时代。

tā kāi chuàng le yí gè xīn shí dài

He pioneered a new era.
25 开启 kāi qǐ — to open; to start; to turn on HSK 6
- 开 to open; to start
- 启 to start; to initiate
Example

他开启了新的人生篇章。

tā kāi qǐ le xīn de rén shēng piān zhāng

He opened a new chapter in his life.
26 开头 kāi tóu — beginning HSK 6
- 开 to open, to start
- 头 head, first part
Example

这本书的开头很吸引人。

zhè běn shū de kāi tóu hěn xī yǐn rén

The beginning of this book is very captivating.
27 开设 kāi shè — to open, to establish, to set up HSK 6
- 开 to open, to start, to initiate
- 设 to establish, to set up, to found
Example

学校开设了新的汉语课程。

xué xiào kāi shè le xīn de hàn yǔ kè chéng

The school opened a new Chinese language course.
28 开办 kāi bàn — to establish, to set up HSK 7
- 开 to open, to start
- 办 to handle, to manage, to run
Example

他们计划明年开办一所新学校。

tā men jì huà míng nián kāi bàn yì suǒ xīn xué xiào

They plan to establish a new school next year.
29 开动 kāi dòng — to start up HSK 7
- 开 to start, to open, to initiate
- 动 to move, to operate, motion
Example

司机开动了火车。

sī jī kāi dòng le huǒ chē

The driver started up the train.
30 开发区 kāi fā qū — development zone HSK 7
- 开 open, start, initiate (development)
- 发 develop, expand, grow
- 区 zone, district, area
Example

这个经济开发区吸引了很多外资企业。

zhè ge jīng jì kāi fā qū xī yǐn le hěn duō wài zī qǐ yè

This economic development zone has attracted many foreign-funded enterprises.
31 开发商 kāi fā shāng — developer HSK 7
- 开 to open, to start (initiating development)
- 发 to develop, to expand (core development action)
- 商 merchant, business entity (commercial operator)
Example

开发商计划在这里建一座购物中心。

kāi fā shāng jì huà zài zhè lǐ jiàn yí zuò gòu wù zhōng xīn

The developer plans to build a shopping center here.
32 开场 kāi chǎng — to begin/open (a performance or event) HSK 7
- 开 to open, to start
- 场 venue, scene (of performance or event)
Example

演出将在晚上八点开场。

yǎn chū jiāng zài wǎn shang bā diǎn kāi chǎng

The performance will begin at eight o'clock in the evening.
33 开场白 kāi chǎng bái — opening remarks HSK 7
- 开 to open, to begin
- 场 occasion, venue, scene
- 白 speech, words, remarks
Example

主持人的开场白很幽默。

zhǔ chí rén de kāi chǎng bái hěn yōu mò

The host's opening remarks were very humorous.
34 开垦 kāi kěn — to reclaim (wasteland); to cultivate (land) HSK 7
- 开 to open up
- 垦 to reclaim/cultivate
Example

农民们正在开垦荒地种植粮食。

nóng mín men zhèng zài kāi kěn huāng dì zhòng zhí liáng shi

The farmers are reclaiming wasteland to plant food crops.
35 开天辟地 kāi tiān pì dì — to create the world; epoch-making; unprecedented HSK 7
- 开 to open, to start (heaven)
- 天 heaven, sky
- 辟 to split open, to cleave
- 地 earth, ground
Example

这项发明是开天辟地的创新。

zhè xiàng fā míng shì kāi tiān pì dì de chuàng xīn

This invention is an epoch-making innovation.
36 开工 kāi gōng — to start work; to begin construction HSK 7
- 开 to start, to begin, to open
- 工 work, construction, operations
Example

春节后我们就开工了。

chūn jié hòu wǒ men jiù kāi gōng le

We'll start work right after Spring Festival.
37 开庭 kāi tíng — hold a court session HSK 7
- 开 to open, to begin
- 庭 court, tribunal
Example

法院明天上午九点开庭审理这个案件。

fǎ yuàn míng tiān shàng wǔ jiǔ diǎn kāi tíng shěn lǐ zhè ge àn jiàn

The court will hold a session tomorrow morning at nine o'clock to hear this case.
38 开张 kāi zhāng — to open (a business) HSK 7
- 开 to open, to start
- 张 to spread out, to begin operations
Example

我们的咖啡馆今天正式开张了。

wǒ men de kā fēi guǎn jīn tiān zhèng shì kāi zhāng le

Our café officially opened today.
39 开拓 kāi tuò — to open up, to develop, to pioneer HSK 7
- 开 to open, to start
- 拓 to expand, to extend
Example

公司正在开拓海外业务。

gōng sī zhèng zài kāi tuò hǎi wài yè wù

The company is developing overseas business.
40 开支 kāi zhī — expenditure HSK 7
- 开 to open, to start (implies outgoing or disbursement)
- 支 to pay out, to disburse (indicates payment or expenditure)
Example

我们需要控制日常开支。

wǒ men xū yào kòng zhì rì cháng kāi zhī

We need to control our daily expenses.
41 开明 kāi míng — open-minded HSK 7
- 开 open; represents openness and receptivity
- 明 bright, clear; represents enlightenment and understanding
Example

他是一个很开明的父亲。

tā shì yí ge hěn kāi míng de fù qīn

He is a very open-minded father.
42 开朗 kāi lǎng — cheerful HSK 7
- 开 open, unrestricted (personality)
- 朗 bright, clear (disposition)
Example

她是一个很开朗的人，总是笑容满面。

tā shì yí gè hěn kāi lǎng de rén zǒng shì xiào róng mǎn miàn

She is a very cheerful person, always smiling.
43 开辟 kāi pì — to open up, to establish, to pioneer HSK 7
- 开 to open, to start
- 辟 to clear, to break through, to establish
Example

我们要开辟新的市场。

wǒ men yào kāi pì xīn de shì chǎng

We need to open up new markets.
44 开采 kāi cǎi — to mine; to extract HSK 7
- 开 to open up; to develop (a site)
- 采 to extract; to mine; to gather
Example

政府禁止在保护区开采矿产资源。

zhèng fǔ jìn zhǐ zài bǎo hù qū kāi cǎi kuàng chǎn zī yuán

The government prohibits mining mineral resources in protected areas.
45 开销 kāi xiāo — expenses HSK 7
- 开 to disburse, to open up (money flow)
- 销 to consume, to use up
Example

这个月的开销很大。

zhè ge yuè de kāi xiāo hěn dà

This month's expenses are very large.
46 开阔 kāi kuò — spacious, broad, open HSK 7
- 开 open, to open up
- 阔 wide, broad, expansive
Example

这里视野很开阔。

zhè lǐ shì yě hěn kāi kuò

The view here is very open.
47 开除 kāi chú — expel, dismiss, fire HSK 7
- 开 to initiate, to start (an action)
- 除 to remove, to eliminate
Example

公司开除了那个不负责任的员工。

gōng sī kāi chú le nà ge bù fù zé rèn de yuán gōng

The company fired that irresponsible employee.
48 异想天开 yì xiǎng tiān kāi — to have wild/fanciful ideas; unrealistic HSK 7
- 异 unusual, strange, different
- 想 to think, thoughts, ideas
- 天 sky, heaven (suggesting limitlessness)
- 开 to open, unfold, expand
Example

你这个计划太异想天开了，根本不可能实现。

nǐ zhè ge jì huà tài yì xiǎng tiān kāi le gēn běn bù kě néng shí xiàn

Your plan is too fanciful, it's simply impossible to realize.
49 敞开 chǎng kāi — to open wide HSK 7
- 敞 wide, spacious
- 开 to open
Example

请把窗户敞开，让新鲜空气进来。

qǐng bǎ chuāng hu chǎng kāi ràng xīn xiān kōng qì jìn lái

Please open the window wide and let fresh air come in.
50 盛开 shèng kāi — to bloom profusely HSK 7
- 盛 abundantly, profusely
- 开 to bloom, to open
Example

公园里的樱花正在盛开。

gōng yuán lǐ de yīng huā zhèng zài shèng kāi

The cherry blossoms in the park are blooming profusely.
51 眉开眼笑 méi kāi yǎn xiào — beaming with joy HSK 7
- 眉 eyebrow (representing upper facial expression of joy)
- 开 to open (describing the spreading of facial features in happiness)
- 眼 eye (representing the eyes expressing joy)
- 笑 to smile (describing the smiling/laughing expression)
Example

听到这个好消息，他眉开眼笑。

tīng dào zhè ge hǎo xiāo xi tā méi kāi yǎn xiào

Hearing this good news, he beamed with joy.

Structure & writing

开 kāi — to open (something closed, opposite of 关/合)

开 is a component in 5 characters

HSK 4

并 bìng to merge; to combine into one 研 yán to grind finely

HSK 5

形 xíng appearance; shape

HSK 7

刑 xíng criminal punishment; legal penalty imposed by the state on offenders 荆 jīng chaste tree (a deciduous shrub with long-stalked palmate leaves, blue-purple flowers, and tough branches used for weaving baskets; branches formerly used as a flogging instrument)

开 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order

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