開
open · unfold · unseal
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
surround from above: gate + 开
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of gate (門) and open. Opening gate with both hands.
Symbolism
Start, release, develop. Represents opening new possibilities.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Good old days
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
開口一番
かいこういちばん
at the very beginning of one's speech; immediately upon opening one's mouth (to speak); before anything else; at the very beginning of one's speech
天地開闢
てんちかいびゃく
creation of heaven and earth; creation of heaven and earth
文明開化
ぶんめいかいか
civilization and enlightenment; Japan's Westernization movement during the Meiji era (Westernisation); civilization and enlightenment
門戸開放
もんこかいほう
open door policy; open door policy
開眼供養
かいげんくよう
ceremony to consecrate a newly made Buddhist statue or image by inserting the eyes (thereby investing it with soul); ceremony to consecrate a newly made Buddhist statue or image by inserting the eyes (thereby investing it with soul)
開闢以来
かいびゃくいらい
since the beginning of the world; since the dawn of history; since the beginning of the world
局面打開
きょくめんだかい
breakthrough in the situation; break in the deadlocked situation; breakthrough in the situation
転迷開悟
てんめいかいご
casting away one's vices or worldly desires and achieving enlightenment; casting away one's vices or worldly desires and achieving enlightenment
開運招福
かいうんしょうふく
bringing luck and good fortune; bringing luck and good fortune
Proverbs & Idioms
開けて見るまで分からない
あけてみるまでわからない
You won't know until you open it
You never know until you try
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 開 mean in Japanese?
開 means open, unfold, unseal.
How do you read 開?
On'yomi: カイ (KAI). Kun'yomi: ひら.く、ひら.き、-びら.き、ひら.ける、あ.く、あ.ける (hiraku, hiraki, biraki, hirakeru, aku, akeru).
How many strokes does 開 have?
開 has 12 strokes. Its radical is 門 (gate).
Is 開 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 開 (open, unfold, unseal) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
Explore by meaning:kanji for open · kanji for unfold