启 qǐ — open · English

启

qǐ

open

At a glance · 启

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「启」繁体「啟」从户从攴从口，甲骨文象开户，小篆承之。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「启」本义为开门、开启，引申启发、启奏、开始。

Structure

从户、从攴、从口，会意字，以手开户为启，本为开启。简作启。

At a glance

Pinyinqǐ

Radical口

Strokes7

UnicodeU+542F

Character type会意

Theme动作

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English open open; begin, commence; explain

Français ouvrir Ouvrir. «丙舍傍启» : les portes s'ouvrent.

Español abrir Abrir. «丙舍傍启»: las puertas se abren.

العربية يفتح يفتح. «丙舍傍启»: الأبواب تُفتح.

Русский открывать Открывать. «丙舍傍启»: двери открываются.

Common words

启发qǐ fāinspire
开启kāi qǐopen

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