Chinese words starting with “kai”
35 words in our HSK vocabulary start with the syllable kai. They are sorted by how common they are, so the ones you are most likely to meet come first. The 11 most useful of them have their own page — they are listed first below.
Initial k · final ai · hear the four tones and see example characters →
- 1st tone 33
- 3rd tone 2
Word counts by tone are counted on the first syllable of each word.
Common words with this syllable
- 开始kāi shǐHSK 3
to begin; beginning; to start; initial
- 开心kāi xīnHSK 2
to feel happy; to rejoice; to have a great time; to make fun of sb
- 开车kāi chēHSK 1
to drive a car
- 开发kāi fāHSK 3
to exploit (a resource); to open up (for development); to develop
- 开放kāi fàngHSK 3
to bloom; to open; to be open (to the public); to open up (to the outside); to be open-minded; unrestrained by convention; unconstrained in one's sexuality
- 开玩笑kāi wán xiàoHSK 1
to play a joke; to make fun of; to joke
- 开会kāi huìHSK 1
to hold a meeting; to attend a meeting
- 开展kāi zhǎnHSK 3
to launch; to develop; to unfold; (of an exhibition etc) to open
- 开业kāi yèHSK 3
to open a business; to open a practice; open (for business)
- 开学kāi xuéHSK 2
foundation of a University or College; school opening; the start of a new term
- 开机kāi jīHSK 2
to start an engine; to boot up (a computer); to press Ctrl-Alt-Delete; to begin shooting a film or TV show
All 35 words
| # | Word | Pinyin | POS | Meaning | Study list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 开 | kāi | v,q | to open (transitive or intransitive); (of ships, vehicles, troops etc) to start; to turn on; to put in operation; to operate; to run; to boil; to write out (a prescription, check, invoice etc); (directional complement) away; off; carat (gold); abbr. for Kelvin, 开尔文; abbr. for 开本, book format | |
| 2 | 开口 | kāi kǒu | v | to open one's mouth; to start to talk | |
| 3 | 开通 | kāi tōng | v | to open (a new road or railway line); to set up (a hotline); to launch (a service); to subscribe to (a members-only service) | |
| 4 | 开工 | kāi gōng | v,vn | to begin work (of a factory or engineering operation); to start a construction job | |
| 5 | 开枪 | kāi qiāng | v,vn | to open fire; to shoot a gun | |
| 6 | 开启 | kāi qǐ | v,vn | to open; to start; (computing) to enable | |
| 7 | 开除 | kāi chú | v,vn | to expel (a member of an organization); to fire (an employee) | |
| 8 | 开场 | kāi chǎng | v,vn | to begin; to open; to start; beginning of an event | |
| 9 | 开头 | kāi tóu | n,v | beginning; to start | |
| 10 | 开支 | kāi zhī | n,v | expenditures; expenses; to spend money; (coll.) to pay wages | |
| 11 | 开关 | kāi guān | n | power switch; gas valve; to open the city (or frontier) gate; to open and close; to switch on and off | |
| 12 | 开张 | kāi zhāng | v,vn | to open a business; first transaction of a business day | |
| 13 | 开幕 | kāi mù | v,vn | to open (a conference); to inaugurate | |
| 14 | 开幕式 | kāi mù shì | n | opening ceremony | |
| 15 | 开创 | kāi chuàng | v | to initiate; to start; to found | |
| 16 | 开设 | kāi shè | v | to offer (goods or services); to open (for business etc) | |
| 17 | 开办 | kāi bàn | v | to open; to start (a business etc); to set up | |
| 18 | 开采 | kāi cǎi | v,vn | to extract (ore or other resource from a mine); to exploit; to mine | |
| 19 | 开花 | kāi huā | v | to bloom; to blossom; to flower; (fig.) to burst; to split open; (fig.) to burst with joy; (fig.) to spring up everywhere; to flourish | |
| 20 | 开阔 | kāi kuò | v,a | wide; open (spaces); to open up | |
| 21 | 开拓 | kāi tuò | v | to break new ground (for agriculture); to open up (a new seam); to develop (border regions); fig. to open up (new horizons) | |
| 22 | 开动 | kāi dòng | v | to start; to set in motion; to move; to march; to dig in (eating); to tuck in (eating) | |
| 23 | 开朗 | kāi lǎng | a | spacious and well-lit; open and clear; (of character) optimistic; cheerful; carefree | |
| 24 | 开辟 | kāi pì | v | to open up; to set up; to establish | |
| 25 | 开销 | kāi xiāo | n,v | to pay (expenses); expenses; (old) to dismiss (an employee) | |
| 26 | 开发商 | kāi fā shāng | n | developer (of real estate, a commercial product etc) | |
| 27 | 开水 | kāi shuǐ | n | boiled water; boiling water | |
| 28 | 楷模 | kǎi mó | n | model; example | |
| 29 | 开明 | kāi míng | a | enlightened; open-minded; enlightenment | |
| 30 | 开发区 | kāi fā qū | n | development zone | |
| 31 | 开场白 | kāi chǎng bái | n | prologue of play; opening remarks; preamble (of speeches, articles etc) | |
| 32 | 凯歌 | kǎi gē | n | triumphal hymn; victory song; paean | |
| 33 | 开垦 | kāi kěn | v | to clear a wild area for cultivation; to put under the plow | |
| 34 | 开天辟地 | kāi tiān pì dì | v | to split heaven and earth apart (idiom); refers to the Pangu 盘古 creation myth | |
| 35 | 开夜车 | kāi yè chē | v | to burn the midnight oil; to work late into the night |
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