HSK 1 · Chinese hanzi

开

开 — to open

Reading
kāi
Meaning
to open; to start
HSK level
HSK 1
Language
Chinese

About this hanzi

开 is a chinese hanzi character commonly studied at the HSK 1 level. Its primary reading is kāi and it means to open; to start. To master it, see it in real Chinese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.

开 appears in everyday chinese words such as 开 (open, drive), 开车 (drive a car) and 开始 (start; begin).

Chinese words containing 开

Frequently asked questions

What does 开 mean in Chinese?

开 means to open; to start in Chinese. It is one of the HSK 1 hanzi every learner meets at that level.

How is 开 read?

开 is read kāi. Reading it inside real words — 开 and 开车 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.

What level is 开 — is it HSK 1?

Yes. 开 is on the official HSK 1 hanzi list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.

How do you use 开 in a word?

A common word containing 开 is 开 (kāi) — "open, drive". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.

How do I learn 开 effectively?

Read it in context. Import any Chinese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 开 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.

More HSK 1 hanzi

Learn every HSK hanzi in context

InputDojo gives you the full HSK 1–9 hanzi list — plus one-tap lookups in any real Chinese content. Free to start.

Start free