dǎkāi: 打开 - To Open, To Turn On

• Keywords: dǎkāi, dakai, 打开, open in Chinese, turn on in Chinese, Chinese verb for open, HSK 1 verb, learn Chinese, resultative complement, meaning of dakai
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 打开 (dǎkāi), which means “to open” or “to turn on.” This comprehensive guide for beginners covers its literal use for doors and books, its common use for electronics like computers and lights, and its metaphorical meaning for opening one's heart or new opportunities. Understand the character breakdown, cultural context, and practical examples to avoid common mistakes and master this fundamental HSK 1 word.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dǎ kāi
• Part of Speech: Verb (Resultative Verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: To perform an action that results in something being open or on.
• In a Nutshell: 打开 (dǎkāi) is one of the most versatile verbs in Chinese. It's the go-to word for the physical act of opening something (a door, a box, a book) and for the action of turning on an electronic device (a computer, a light, the TV). It combines the action of “doing something” (`打`) with the result of “being open” (`开`).

• 打 (dǎ): This character originally meant “to hit” or “to strike.” In many modern compound words like 打开, it acts as a versatile action prefix. Think of it as indicating “to perform an action upon something.”
• 开 (kāi): This character is a pictograph of a gate (`门`) with a horizontal bar being lifted, symbolizing the act of opening. It carries the core meaning of “to open,” “to start,” or “to be open.”
• Together, 打开 (dǎkāi) literally means “to act and cause to be open.” This structure is called a “resultative complement,” where the first verb (`打`) is the action and the second (`开`) is the result.

While 打开 is a highly practical and functional verb, its widespread use for both physical and abstract concepts reveals a common pattern in the Chinese language. The leap from opening a physical door to “opening” a new opportunity (`打开新局面`) or “opening” one's heart (`打开心扉`) is intuitive and frequent. This contrasts with English, where we often use different verbs. We “open” a door but “turn on” a computer. We “start” a conversation but “unleash” potential. In Chinese, the single concept of 打开 fluidly covers many of these scenarios. This linguistic efficiency reflects a way of seeing the world where a single, concrete action can serve as a powerful metaphor for more abstract processes of initiation and revelation. Learning 打开 isn't just learning a word; it's learning a fundamental way that Chinese builds meaning.

This is the most direct meaning. It's used for anything with a lid, door, or cover that can be opened.

• Connotation: Neutral
• Formality: Used in all contexts, from casual to formal.
• Examples: Opening a door (`门`), window (`窗户`), book (`书`), box (`盒子`), bottle (`瓶子`), umbrella (`伞`).

This is a crucial usage for modern life and a common point of confusion for English speakers. 打开 is the standard verb for activating most electronic devices.

• Connotation: Neutral
• Formality: Standard, everyday use.
• Examples: Turning on a computer (`电脑`), TV (`电视`), light (`灯`), air conditioner (`空调`), radio (`收音机`).

打开 is also used to describe initiating something non-physical or making something accessible.

• Connotation: Often positive, implying new beginnings.
• Formality: Can be used in both conversational and more formal or literary contexts.
• Examples: Opening one's heart (`打开心扉`), opening a new file on a computer (`打开文件`), opening up a new situation (`打开新局面`).

• Example 1:
  • 请打开门。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng dǎkāi mén.
  • English: Please open the door.
  • Analysis: The most basic and literal usage of the word. `请 (qǐng)` makes it a polite request.
• Example 2:
  • 我每天早上第一件事就是打开电脑。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang dì yī jiàn shì jiùshì dǎkāi diànnǎo.
  • English: The first thing I do every morning is turn on the computer.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of 打开 being used to mean “turn on” for an electronic device.
• Example 3:
  • 他打开书，开始学习。
  • Pinyin: Tā dǎkāi shū, kāishǐ xuéxí.
  • English: He opened the book and started to study.
  • Analysis: A simple, common sentence showing the action of opening a book.
• Example 4:
  • 外面太热了，把空调打开吧。
  • Pinyin: Wàimiàn tài rè le, bǎ kōngtiáo dǎkāi ba.
  • English: It's too hot outside, let's turn on the air conditioner.
  • Analysis: This uses the `把 (bǎ)` structure to emphasize the action's effect on the object (`空调` - air conditioner).
• Example 5:
  • 你能帮我打开这个瓶子吗？它太紧了。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ dǎkāi zhège píngzi ma? Tā tài jǐn le.
  • English: Can you help me open this bottle? It's too tight.
  • Analysis: Shows 打开 used for an object that requires some effort to open.
• Example 6:
  • 他不愿意打开心扉，跟别人交流。
  • Pinyin: Tā bù yuànyì dǎkāi xīnfēi, gēn biérén jiāoliú.
  • English: He is unwilling to open his heart and communicate with others.
  • Analysis: A great example of a common metaphorical use. `心扉 (xīnfēi)` literally means “heart's door panels.”
• Example 7:
  • 老师让学生们打开麦克风回答问题。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī ràng xuéshēngmen dǎkāi màikèfēng huídá wèntí.
  • English: The teacher asked the students to turn on their microphones to answer the question.
  • Analysis: A very modern usage relevant to online classes and meetings.
• Example 8:
  • 突然下雨了，我赶紧打开了雨伞。
  • Pinyin: Tūrán xià yǔ le, wǒ gǎnjǐn dǎkāi le yǔsǎn.
  • English: It suddenly started raining, so I quickly opened my umbrella.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the use with `了 (le)` to indicate a completed action.
• Example 9:
  • 这项新政策为我们打开了新的市场。
  • Pinyin: Zhè xiàng xīn zhèngcè wèi wǒmen dǎkāi le xīn de shìchǎng.
  • English: This new policy has opened up a new market for us.
  • Analysis: A more formal, business-oriented metaphorical use.
• Example 10:
  • 你可以打开这个链接看看。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kěyǐ dǎkāi zhège liànjiē kànkan.
  • English: You can open this link to have a look.
  • Analysis: Essential vocabulary for the digital age, referring to clicking or opening a hyperlink.

• 打开 vs. 开 (kāi): In many situations, especially with single-character objects like `门 (mén)` or `灯 (dēng)`, `开` and `打开` are interchangeable. `开门` and `打开门` both mean “open the door.” However, `打开` often feels slightly more explicit or emphasizes the completion of the action. For multi-syllable objects like `电脑 (diànnǎo)`, `打开` is almost always preferred over just `开`.
• Crucial Mistake: Opening a Business: Do NOT use 打开 to say you are “opening a store” as in starting a business.
  • Incorrect: 我打开了一个商店。(Wǒ dǎkāi le yí ge shāngdiàn.) - This sounds like you physically forced the store's door open.
  • Correct: 我开了一个商店。(Wǒ kāi le yí ge shāngdiàn.) - Here, `开` alone means to establish or run a business.
• “Open” as an Adjective: 打开 is a verb. To describe something as being in a state of “open,” you use `开着 (kāizhe)`. To describe a person as “open-minded,” you use `思想开放 (sīxiǎng kāifàng)`.
  • Incorrect: 门是打开。(Mén shì dǎkāi.)
  • Correct: 门开着。(Mén kāizhe.) - The door is open.

• 关 (guān): The direct antonym of `开`. It means “to close” or “to turn off.” Example: `关门 (guānmén)` - to close the door.
• 关上 (guānshàng): The resultative verb version of `关`, meaning “to close shut.” It is the direct antonym of `打开`.
• 开 (kāi): The root character for “open.” As a standalone verb, it means “to open,” “to start,” “to hold (a meeting),” or “to operate (a business).”
• 开启 (kāiqǐ): A more formal or literary word for “to open” or “to start.” Often used for abstract concepts like starting a new era (`开启新时代`).
• 开放 (kāifàng): “To open up” in the sense of policy (like China's “Reform and Opening Up” - `改革开放`) or to be “open-minded.”
• 张开 (zhāngkāi): To open something wide by spreading it apart, like one's mouth (`张开嘴`), arms (`张开双臂`), or wings.
• 启动 (qǐdòng): To start up, to launch, to boot up. A more technical term for starting an engine, a machine, or a software program. More formal than `打开电脑`.