开
Character learning workspace

kāi · to open

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 1HSK 3.0 · Level 1Frequency #195
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 开

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 开 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

4Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Top-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the upper section balanced above the lower section.

廾Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 开 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 开

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

kāiWords pronounced kāi
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 开 sits in each complete thought.

Wǒ kāi chē lái de.我开车来的。

I came in a car.

Source: Tatoeba #10230465 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Bú yào dǎ kāi nǐ de shū.不要打开你的书。

Do not open your book.

Source: Tatoeba #731725 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ néng lái de huà wǒ huì hěn kāi xīn.你能来的话我会很开心。

I'd be delighted if you could come with us.

Source: Tatoeba #2280687 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ bù xiǎng yào nǐ lí kāi.我不想要你离开。

I don't want you to leave.

Source: Tatoeba #9423586 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè bú shì yí jiàn kāi wán xiào de shì.这不是一件开玩笑的事。

This isn't a joking matter.

Source: Tatoeba #9958162 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā kāi chē sòng wǒ men huí lái de.他开车送我们回来的。

He took us back in his car.

Source: Tatoeba #796801 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 开 in context

  1. Say kāi, then recall the core meaning: to open.
  2. Write all 4 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 开车 (kāi chē), meaning “to drive a car”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 开 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.