kāi​guān HSK6

switch

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

guān to close Simplified

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and 𢇇 represents the sound. The simplified character was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character . The traditional component was removed for simplification.

Components

Deleted component
mén, men door

The traditional component was removed for simplification.

𢇇
guān to run threads through a web in weaving

Shorthand for the 𢇇 component in the traditional character .

Character Evolution

Oracle form
Oracle Bone ~1250-1000 BC
Bronze form
Bronze Early Western Zhou ~1000 BC
Bronze form
Bronze Mid Western Zhou ~900 BC
Regular Modern

Component uses

Simplified (1 of 2 verified)

Sources

Readings & variants
Unicode
Historical images
Academia Sinica

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

guān to close Traditional

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and 𢇇 represents the sound.

Components

Meaning component
mén, men door
𢇇
𢇇 Sound component
guān to run threads through a web in weaving

Character Evolution

Bronze form
Bronze Warring States 475-221 BC
Bronze form
Bronze Mid Warring States ~300 BC
Seal form
Seal Warring States (Chu) 475-221 BC
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 Western Han 202 BC-9 AD
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-Sagartkwaen[k]ˤro[n] barrier
kwaen[k]ˤro[n] 關關 kwaen.kwaen [bird’s cry]
kwaenkˤro[n] 間關 sound of a chariot's linchpin (Ode 218.1)

說文解字

《說文》:“關,以木橫持門戶也。从門,聲。”

Sources

Character origin
漢語多功能字庫
Readings & variants
Unicode
Historical pronunciations
Baxter-Sagart
Historical images
Academia Sinica