What does 开 mean in Chinese?

开 (kāi) means "to open; to start; to turn on; to boil; to write out (a prescription, check, invoice etc); to operate (a vehicle); carat (gold); abbr. for Kelvin, 開爾文|开尔文[Kai1 er3 wen2]; abbr. for 開本|开本[kai1 ben3], book format" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 1.

How do you pronounce 开?

开 is pronounced "kāi" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 1.

What HSK level is 开?

开 is an HSK 1 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 1 on both the old and the new exam.

What words contain the character 开?

Common words with 开 include 公开 (public), 不可开交 (to be awfully (busy etc)), 丢开 (to cast or put aside), 伸开 (to stretch out), 倒开 (to reverse a vehicle).

How do you write 开?

开 has 4 strokes. Its radical is 廾. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

开 (kāi), to open

开

kāi

to open; to start; to turn on; to boil

HSK 1verb4 strokes

Traditional: 開

Character Breakdown

开 = 一 + 廾

Two hands lifting a bar — to open

Radical: 廾 (no. 55)Strokes: 4Traditional: 開

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb) to open
to start
to turn on
to boil
to write out (a prescription, check, invoice etc)
to operate (a vehicle)
carat (gold)
abbr. for Kelvin, 開爾文|开尔文[Kai1 er3 wen2]
abbr. for 開本|开本[kai1 ben3], book format

Example Sentences

请帮我开门。

Qǐng bāng wǒ kāi mén

Please help me open the door

Words Containing 开

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
公开	gōng kāi	public	HSK 6
不可开交	bù kě kāi jiāo	to be awfully (busy etc)
丢开	diū kāi	to cast or put aside
伸开	shēn kāi	to stretch out
倒开	dào kāi

→

启(qǐ)· to open

→

启齿(qǐ chǐ)· to open one's mouth

→

张口(zhāng kǒu)· to gape

→

Grammar Notes

Ability with 会HSK 1

Subject + 会 + Verb + Object

把 ConstructionHSK 3

Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Complement/Result

Continuous State (着)HSK 3

Verb + 着 (+ Object)

First...Then (先...再/然后)HSK 3

先 + Verb₁，再/然后 + Verb₂

As Long As (只要...就)HSK 3

只要 + Condition，(Subject) + 就 + Result

Appears in these articles

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 1
HSK 2.0: HSK 1
HSK Lord study list: HSK 1 list

开: HSK 1 on both the old and the new exam. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 1 exam

Studying for HSK 1? Keep 开 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 1 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.

开