Chinese word

开工

Pronunciation

Pinyinkāi gōng

Meaning

  • verbstart construction

Example

我们明天开工。wǒ men míng tiān kāi gōng

We start construction tomorrow.

Illustration for 开工 (start construction)

More examples

工厂在新设备到位后立即开工生产，确保供应不间断。gōng chǎng zài xīn shè bèi dào wèi hòu lì jí kāi gōng shēng chǎn què bǎo gōng yìng bú jiàn duàn

The factory begins production immediately after the new equipment is in place, ensuring that the supply does not stop.

Core concept

A project, work site, or production line moves from preparation into active labor.

Common phrases

  • 提前开工tí qián kāi gōng

    begin construction early

  • 陆续开工lù xù kāi gōng

    begin construction in succession

  • 开工建设kāi gōng jiàn shè

    begin construction and build

Similar words

开始kāi shǐ: Start happening or start doing something.
动手dòng shǒu: Set to work on something with the hands or with tools.
动工dòng gōng: Start carrying out construction or other substantial physical work.
着手zhuó shǒu: Take up a task and begin working on it seriously.

Definition in Chinese

开始进行某项实际的工作或施工，常用于工程、生产线或集体劳动的正式启动。kāi shǐ jìn xíng mǒu xiàng shí jì de gōng zuò huò shī gōng cháng yòng yú gōng chéng shēng chǎn xiàn huò jí tǐ láo dòng de zhèng shì qǐ dòng

Word origin

开工 (kāigōng, "begin work") combines 开 (kāi, "open or begin") with 工 (gōng, "labor or construction"), forming a concrete term for the formal start of a work operation.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, the subject is often a project, crew, factory, or other organized unit, so this word is less natural for a person quietly beginning a small task.

Other meanings

  • start workverb

Opposites

  • 停工tíng gōnghalt constructionverb
  • 完工wán gōngfinish constructionverb

Related words

  • 开工报告kāi gōng bào gàoconstruction commencement reportnoun
  • 开工手续kāi gōng shǒu xùconstruction commencement proceduresnoun

Word lists with this word