Chillchat (Learn Chinese and Chill) “Start” in Chinese (开 VS 开始 VS 开门)
Mar 23, 2026
Clear breakdown of three Chinese words that translate as “start” and how their meanings differ. Fun examples show when 开 means open or turn on, when 开始 means begin, and when 开门 is just about doors or shops. Short comparisons and real sentences make the contrasts easy to spot.
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开 Is A Multiuse Verb In Fixed Phrases
- The verb 开 is multifunctional and commonly appears in fixed expressions to mean open, turn on, or start.
- Karen lists examples like 开会 (start a meeting), 开学 (school starts), 开工 (start work), 开灯 (turn on light), and 开公司 (start a company).
Use 开 In Fixed Noun Phrases
- Use 开 with nouns in set phrases to express starting actions or turning things on rather than as a general 'begin'.
- Examples to mimic: 公司明天开工, 下星期开学, 能开一下灯吗, 我开了一个小型创业公司.
开始 Only Means Begin Or Start
- 开始 exclusively means to start or begin an action or process and cannot mean to turn on or open.
- It accepts verbs or nouns: e.g., 开始学习 (begin to learn), 电影开始 (the movie starts).