Meet 開 in words about opening and being open. The examples connect each reading to a useful everyday context.

The idea

開 has 12 strokes; follow their order in the linked diagram. Read 開きます（あきます） and 開いて（ひらいて） as complete words, because a character’s pronunciation depends on the word.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
開きますあきますThe shop opens at nine.
開いてひらいてPlease open this book.
開けてあけてPlease open the window a little.
開いてあいてThe room’s window is open.

Examples

  • 店みせは九時くじに開あきます。The shop opens at nine.
  • この本ほんを開ひらいてください。Please open this book.
  • 窓まどを少すこし開あけてください。Please open the window a little.
  • 部屋へやの窓まどが開あいています。The room’s window is open.
  • 日曜日にちようびは店みせが開あきません。The shop doesn't open on Sundays.
  • ドアを開あけて、部屋へやに入はいります。I open the door and enter the room.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

開ける（あける） means someone opens something; 開く（あく） describes it opening. A book may be opened with 開く（ひらく）. Compare the shape of 開 with 間.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 開きます in hiragana. 「店みせは九時くじに開きます。」

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    あきます

    開きます is read あきます. In the example: The shop opens at nine. Here it means “opens”.

  2. Write the reading of 開いて in hiragana. 「この本ほんを開いてください。」

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    ひらいて

    開いて is read ひらいて. In the example: Please open this book. Here it means “open a book”.

  3. Write the missing kanji: ＿きます［開／間］（あきます）.

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    開

    開 completes 開きます, read あきます. In the example: The shop opens at nine. Here it means “opens”.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 開 from memory and read 開きます and 開いて aloud. Then check the readings against the examples.