Japanese word

開く

Pronunciation

Romajiaku

Meaning

  • verbopen

Example

窓が開きます。mado ga hira ki ma su

The window opens.

Illustration for 開く (open)

More examples

朝、教室のドアが開きます。asa kyō shitsu no do a ga hira ki ma su

The classroom door opens in the morning.

受付は午前九時に開きます。uke tsuke wa go zen ku ji ni hira ki ma su

Registration opens at nine in the morning.

Core concept

Describes something changing from a closed or unavailable state to an open or usable state.

Common phrases

  • ドアが開くdo a ga a ku

    the door opens

  • 幕が開くmaku ga a ku

    the curtain rises

  • 店が開くmise ga a ku

    the store opens

Similar words

開けるakeru: To make a closed door, window, or other object open.

Definition in Japanese

閉じていたものが、開いた状態や利用できる状態になる。to ji te i ta mo no ga hira i ta jō tai ya ri yō de ki ru jō tai ni na ru

Word origin

開く (aku) is a native Japanese verb rather than a loanword, written with 開 (kai, "open"), a kanji chosen for its meaning.

Usage tips

  • English uses one verb, open, for both 開く (aku), when something opens by itself, and 開ける (akeru), when someone opens it.

Other meanings

  • become availableverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word