开

開

kāi

verb HSK 1 #155

Meanings

1 to open
2 to turn on
3 to start
4 to drive

Characters

to open; to start

Examples

Qǐng kāi mén.

Please open the door.

你会开车吗？

Nǐ huì kāi chē ma?

Can you drive?

请开灯。

Qǐng kāi dēng.

Please turn on the light.

Tips

usage

开 is incredibly versatile: 开门 (open a door), 开车 (drive), 开灯 (turn on a light), 开会 (hold a meeting), 开心 (happy), 开始 (start).

grammar

The opposite of 开 is 关 (guān): 开门/关门 (open/close door), 开灯/关灯 (turn on/off light).

Stroke Order

开 kāi