Onyomi: カイ · Kunyomi: -びら.き, あ.く, あ.ける, ひら.き, ひら.く, ひら.ける · Meanings: open, unfold, unseal
Kanji for open, unfold, unseal
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The kanji 開 combines 門 (gate or door) with 开 (to open or begin). Together, they form the image of a gate being opened. It represents the act of opening something — a door, a meeting, or an opportunity. Over time, 開 came to mean “open,” “start,” or “unlock,” symbolizing the beginning of movement or access.
A gate being opened — 開 means to open, start, or unlock.
Imagine pushing open a big gate to start a new journey — that’s 開, the kanji for opening and beginnings.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 開 | かい | open, beginning | Prefix, Suffix |
| 開ける | あける | to open (a door, etc.), to unwrap (e.g. parcel, package), to unlock | common JLPT-N3 JLPT-N5 Ichidan verb, Transitive verb |
| 開く | ひらく | to open, to undo, to unseal, to unpack | common JLPT-N4 Godan verb with 'ku' ending, Intransitive verb, Transitive verb |
| 開始 | かいし | start, commencement, beginning, initiation | common JLPT-N3 Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb, Intransitive verb |
| 開拓 | かいたく | reclamation (e.g. of wasteland), cultivation, development | common JLPT-N1 Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb |
| 開会 | かいかい | opening of a meeting | common JLPT-N2 Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb, Intransitive verb |
| 開放 | かいほう | opening (a door, window, etc.), leaving open | common JLPT-N2 Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb |
| 開通 | かいつう | opening (of a new road, railway, etc.), going into operation (e.g. telephone communication), beginning services | common JLPT-N2 Noun, Suru verb, Intransitive verb |
| 開発 | かいはつ | development, exploitation (of resources) | common JLPT-N1 Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb |
| 開催 | かいさい | holding (a conference, exhibition, etc.), opening, hosting (e.g. the Olympics) | common JLPT-N1 Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb |