kāi​kuàng

expansive

kāi open Simplified

Simplified form of . Pictograph of two hands () opening the bolt () on a door (). The traditional component was removed for simplification.

Components

Deleted component
mén, men door

The traditional component was removed for simplification.

Iconic component
characterless component

Depicts a bolt on a door.

Iconic component
gǒng two hands

Component uses

Sound (0 of 5 verified)

Meaning (0 of 2 verified)

Sources

Character origin
季旭昇《說文新證》p.836
Readings & variants
Unicode

kuàng extensive Simplified

A wide 广 plain under the sun 广 also provides the pronunciation

Components

Meaning component
sun
广
广 SoundMeaning component
guǎng roof

Sources

Readings & variants
Unicode

kāi open Traditional

Pictograph of two hands () opening the bolt () on a door ().

Components

Iconic component
mén, men door
Iconic component
characterless component

Depicts a bolt on a door.

Iconic component
gǒng two hands

Character Evolution

Seal form
Seal Qin 221-206 BC
Seal form
Seal Shuowen ~100 AD
Seal form
Seal Shuowen ~100 AD
Clerical form
Clerical Qin 221-206 BC
Clerical form
Clerical Western Han 202 BC-9 AD
Clerical form
Clerical Eastern Han 25-220 AD
Regular Modern

Historical Pronunciations

Middle ChineseOld ChineseGloss
Baxter-SagartkhojNə-[k]ʰˤəj to open (v.i.)
khoj[k]ʰˤəj to open (v.t.)

說文解字

《說文》:“開,張也。从門,从幵。,古文開。”

Sources

Character origin
季旭昇《說文新證》p.836
Readings & variants
Unicode
Historical pronunciations
Baxter-Sagart
Historical images
Academia Sinica

kuàng extensive Traditional

A wide  plain under the sun  also provides the pronunciation

Components

Meaning component
sun
SoundMeaning component
guǎng wide

Character Evolution

Seal form
Seal Shuowen ~100 AD
Clerical form
Clerical Eastern Han 25-220 AD
Clerical form
Clerical Three Kingdoms (Cao Wei) 222-280 AD
Regular Modern

Historical Pronunciations

Middle ChineseOld ChineseGloss
Baxter-SagartkhwangH[k-m̥ ]ˤaŋ-sdesolate, waste
khwangHkʷʰˤaŋ-sbright
Zhengzhangkʰʷaːŋs
Unicodekuɑ̀ng

說文解字

明也。从日廣聲。

Sources

Readings & variants
Unicode
Historical pronunciations
Baxter-SagartZhengzhang Shangfang
Historical images
Academia Sinica