开 (kāi) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 开 (kāi) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 开 (kāi) means "to open; to start; to drive". It is an HSK Level 1 character, with 4 strokes and the radical 廾.

Q: How do you write 开 stroke by stroke?

开 has 4 strokes. The radical is 廾. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 开 and 廾?

开 (kāi) and 廾 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 开?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 廾. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 开?

Common words containing 开 include: 开始 (kāi shǐ) — to start; to begin; 开车 (kāi chē) — to drive a car; 开心 (kāi xīn) — happy; joyful.

How to Write 开

The character 开 (kāi) is written with 4 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 廾 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

开 is pronounced kāi in Mandarin Chinese. It means to open; to start; to drive.

As an HSK Level 1 character, 开 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 开

开始 kāi shǐ

to start; to begin

开车 kāi chē

to drive a car

开心 kāi xīn

happy; joyful

Example Sentences

电影快要开始了。

diàn yǐng kuài yào kāi shǐ le

The movie is about to start.

你会开车吗？

nǐ huì kāi chē ma

Can you drive?

今天我很开心。

jīn tiān wǒ hěn kāi xīn

I am very happy today.

Similar Characters

廾 gǒng

廿 niàn

弁 biàn

Practice Writing 开 (kāi)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 开 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 开

What does 开 (kāi) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 开 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 开 and 廾?

What mistakes do learners make writing 开?

What common words use 开?

How to Write 开 (kāi)