(dǎ kāi) - to open, to turn on, to switch on in Mandarin
dǎkāiTraditional: 打開
Translation
to open, to turn on, to switch on
Word origin
The word 打开 combines 打 'to do, to act' with 开 'to open'. 开 (traditional 開) shows two hands removing the bar from a gate 門, conveying opening. Together they mean to open, to turn on, to switch on.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 打 (dǎ, to do) + 开 (kāi, to open)
Stroke order
打
开
Examples
瓶。
Please help me open this bottle of water.
。
He turned on the TV.
，。
Open the window to let air in.
。
Please open the window.
。
He switched on the computer.
打开 (dǎ kāi) means to open or to turn on. 打 is a versatile action verb and 开 means open. Together they describe opening physical things (打开门, open the door; 打开瓶子, open a bottle) and switching on devices (打开电视, turn on the TV; 打开电脑, turn on the computer). The opposite is 关上 (guān shàng, to close/shut) or 关掉 (guān diào, to turn off). Figuratively, 打开心扉 means to open one's heart.
Used in
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Go to my review queueThis word is part of lesson 12.