💎 The Versatile Verb 开 (kāi) - Opening, Starting & Founding - Essential Business & Daily Life Expressions
Master the multifaceted Chinese verb 开 (kāi) and its applications in opening doors, starting businesses, and founding enterprises. Learn essential grammatical patterns with classifiers, particles, and auxiliary verbs that form the foundation of professional and daily Chinese communication.
Chinese lesson from Friday, July 18, 2025
🎯 Mastering the Verb 开 (kāi) - From Physical to Abstract
Explore the versatile verb 开 (kāi) in Chinese - from opening physical objects like doors and windows to starting businesses and expressing emotions. Learn essential grammatical structures including verb-object patterns, classifiers (一间, 一家, 一扇), auxiliary verbs (想, 要), and particles (了) for professional and daily communication.
Perfect for beginners and essential concepts
📚 Key Phrase: 开心 (kāi xīn)
Grammar Focus
1. Basic Verb-Object Pattern: 开 + Object
开 + [Direct Object]
kāi + [Direct Object]
开 (kāi) = open/start + direct object
kāi + [Direct Object]
开 (kāi) = open/start + direct object
• 开门 (kāi mén) = open door
• 开窗 (kāi chuāng) = open window
• 开心 (kāi xīn) = open heart → happy
• 开窗 (kāi chuāng) = open window
• 开心 (kāi xīn) = open heart → happy
开门
Open the door
2. Business Opening Pattern: 开 + Classifier + Business
开 + [Classifier] + [Business Type]
kāi + [Classifier] + [Business Type]
开 (kāi) = open/start + classifier + business establishment
kāi + [Classifier] + [Business Type]
开 (kāi) = open/start + classifier + business establishment
• 开一间公司 (kāi yī jiān gōng sī) = open a company (间 for institutional spaces)
• 开一家餐馆 (kāi yī jiā cān guǎn) = open a restaurant (家 for businesses/families)
• 开一家书店 (kāi yī jiā shū diàn) = open a bookstore
• 开一家餐馆 (kāi yī jiā cān guǎn) = open a restaurant (家 for businesses/families)
• 开一家书店 (kāi yī jiā shū diàn) = open a bookstore
3. Past Action with 了: Subject + 开了 + Object
[Subject] + 开了 + [Object]
[Subject] + kāi le + [Object]
了 (le) = completed action particle indicating past tense
[Subject] + kāi le + [Object]
了 (le) = completed action particle indicating past tense
• 我开了一间公司 (wǒ kāi le yī jiān gōng sī) = I opened a company
• 我开了一家餐馆 (wǒ kāi le yī jiā cān guǎn) = I opened a restaurant
• Past completed business actions
• 我开了一家餐馆 (wǒ kāi le yī jiā cān guǎn) = I opened a restaurant
• Past completed business actions
我开了一间公司
I opened a company
4. Future Intention: 想/要 + 开 + Object
[Subject] + 想/要 + 开 + [Object]
[Subject] + xiǎng/yào + kāi + [Object]
想 (xiǎng) = want to/think about, 要 (yào) = want to/will
[Subject] + xiǎng/yào + kāi + [Object]
想 (xiǎng) = want to/think about, 要 (yào) = want to/will
• 我要开一家书店 (wǒ yào kāi yī jiā shū diàn) = I want to open a bookstore
• 我想开一家咖啡店 (wǒ xiǎng kāi yī jiā kā fēi diàn) = I want to open a coffee shop
• Auxiliary verbs express future intention
• 我想开一家咖啡店 (wǒ xiǎng kāi yī jiā kā fēi diàn) = I want to open a coffee shop
• Auxiliary verbs express future intention
5. Polite Requests: 请 + 开 + Object
请 + 开 + [Object]
qǐng + kāi + [Object]
请 (qǐng) = please (politeness marker)
qǐng + kāi + [Object]
请 (qǐng) = please (politeness marker)
• 请开窗 (qǐng kāi chuāng) = Please open the window
• 请开门 (qǐng kāi mén) = Please open the door
• Polite imperative structure
• 请开门 (qǐng kāi mén) = Please open the door
• Polite imperative structure
6. Compound Verb Pattern: 打开 vs 开
打开 + [Object] vs 开 + [Object]
dǎ kāi + [Object] vs kāi + [Object]
打开 (dǎ kāi) = compound verb emphasizing the opening action
dǎ kāi + [Object] vs kāi + [Object]
打开 (dǎ kāi) = compound verb emphasizing the opening action
• 打开一扇窗户 (dǎ kāi yī shàn chuāng hù) = open a window (emphatic)
• 请打开这个门 (qǐng dǎ kāi zhè gè mén) = please open this door
• 打开 more emphatic than simple 开
• 请打开这个门 (qǐng dǎ kāi zhè gè mén) = please open this door
• 打开 more emphatic than simple 开
开心
kāi xīn
Happy, joyful
Feliz, contento
词汇 Vocabulary Practice
Practice writing the phrases from today's Chinese lesson!
开心
kāi xīn
English:
Happy, joyful
Español:
Feliz, contento
开门
kāi mén
English:
Open the door
Español:
Abrir la puerta
我开了一间公司
wǒ kāi le yī jiān gōng sī
English:
I opened/started a company
Español:
Abrí una empresa
我开了一家餐馆
wǒ kāi le yī jiā cān guǎn
English:
I opened a restaurant
Español:
Abrí un restaurante
我要开一家书店
wǒ yào kāi yī jiā shū diàn
English:
I want to open a bookstore
Español:
Quiero abrir una librería
我想开一家咖啡店
wǒ xiǎng kāi yī jiā kā fēi diàn
English:
I want to open a coffee shop
Español:
Quiero abrir una cafetería
请开窗
qǐng kāi chuāng
English:
Please open the window
Español:
Por favor abre la ventana
请打开这个门
qǐng dǎ kāi zhè gè mén
English:
Please open this door
Español:
Por favor abre esta puerta
打开一扇窗户
dǎ kāi yī shàn chuāng hù
English:
Open a window
Español:
Abrir una ventana
文化 Cultural Insights
💎 The verb 开 (kāi) embodies fundamental Chinese cultural concepts about new beginnings, entrepreneurship, and emotional expression. In business culture, 开店 (kāi diàn) - opening a shop - represents the Chinese dream of independence and economic freedom, deeply rooted in the tradition of family businesses and small-scale entrepreneurship. The opening ceremony 开业典礼 (kāi yè diǎn lǐ) is considered crucial for business success, often featuring red decorations, lucky dates, and community celebration to ensure good fortune. The phrase 开张大吉 (kāi zhāng dà jí) reflects the belief that how you begin determines your success. Emotionally, 开心 (kāi xīn) - literally 'opening the heart' - reveals how Chinese culture connects physical actions with emotional states, suggesting that happiness comes from opening oneself to experiences. The classifier usage (一间公司, 一家餐馆) reflects sophisticated cultural categorization - 间 (jiān) for institutional spaces emphasizes the formal, professional nature of companies, while 家 (jiā) for restaurants and shops emphasizes their family-like, welcoming character. The progression from 想开 (thinking about opening) to 要开 (wanting to open) to 开了 (having opened) mirrors the Chinese entrepreneurial journey from dream to reality, embodying the cultural values of patience, planning, and persistent effort that characterize successful Chinese business practices.
🎯 Advanced Business Expression & 开 (kāi) Mastery in Professional Context
Master complex business communication using 开 (kāi) patterns in professional scenarios. Practice combining classifiers, auxiliary verbs, and particles in realistic entrepreneurial conversations with cultural awareness and natural expression techniques.
For students ready to dive deeper
📖 Reading Practice
📖 开店创业 - Opening Businesses and Entrepreneurship
我想开一家咖啡店，你觉得怎么样？
很好的想法！我也要开一家书店。
我朋友开了一间公司，生意很好。
他的餐馆开了三年了，很受欢迎。
开店真的很难，但也很开心。
请打开这个门，我想看看你的新店。
开窗透气吧，今天天气很好。
他的成功让我们都很开心。
📝 Vocabulary from this reading:
想法
xiǎng fǎ
Idea, thought
朋友
péng yǒu
Friend
生意
shēng yì
Business, trade
受欢迎
shòu huān yíng
Popular, well-received
真的
zhēn de
Really, truly
透气
tòu qì
Ventilate, breathe
成功
chéng gōng
Success, successful
📚 Additional Learning Content
💎 Cultural Context: The Philosophy of "Opening" in Chinese Business Culture
The concept of 开 (kāi) in Chinese culture extends far beyond physical opening to encompass philosophical, business, and emotional dimensions. Understanding these cultural layers reveals important insights into Chinese entrepreneurial spirit, social relationships, and personal development concepts.
Business Opening Traditions
开业 (kāi yè) - Business Opening Culture
Chinese business opening ceremonies and traditions
Entrepreneurial Spirit
开 represents Chinese entrepreneurial culture
Chinese business opening ceremonies and traditions
• 开张大吉 (kāi zhāng dà jí) = grand opening good fortune
• 开业典礼 (kāi yè diǎn lǐ) = opening ceremony importance
• Red decorations and lucky dates for business openings
Entrepreneurial Spirit
开 represents Chinese entrepreneurial culture
• 自己开店 (zì jǐ kāi diàn) = opening one's own shop as independence
• Family businesses passed through generations
• Small business ownership as economic freedom
Emotional and Spiritual Opening
开心 (kāi xīn) - Heart Opening Philosophy
Emotional expression through physical metaphors
Personal Development Concepts
开 in self-improvement and growth
Emotional expression through physical metaphors
• 开心 = opening the heart → happiness and joy
• 心开 (xīn kāi) = heart opens → understanding and acceptance
• Physical opening linked to emotional states
Personal Development Concepts
开 in self-improvement and growth
• 开窍 (kāi qiào) = opening wisdom → becoming enlightened
• 开放 (kāi fàng) = opening up → being open-minded
• 开阔 (kāi kuò) = opening broad → expanding horizons
作业 Homework & Practice
📝 Homework for next class:
1. 🏢 Business Planning: Create sentences using 想开/要开 + classifier + business type to describe your entrepreneurial dreams
2. 🔑 Opening Actions: Practice physical opening commands using 请开/请打开 with different objects and politeness levels
3. 📊 Past Business Experience: Use 开了 + time expressions to describe completed business actions and achievements
4. 😊 Emotional Expressions: Practice 开心 and related emotional vocabulary in different contexts and situations
5. 🏪 Classifier Mastery: Master the differences between 一间公司, 一家餐馆, 一扇窗户 through practical exercises
6. 🗣️ Dialogue Practice: Create conversations combining all patterns about opening businesses and discussing entrepreneurial plans
💡 Real-life Challenge: Use 开 patterns when discussing future plans with Chinese friends - these expressions are essential for professional and business conversations!
Practice Checklist:
Ready for More?
Continue your Chinese learning journey with live classes on TikTok. Join thousands of students learning Mandarin every day!
Join Live Classes