启 meaning and stroke order
To open; to begin, to commence; to explain
How to write 启, stroke by stroke
7 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
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- 5
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- 7
Meaning of 启
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to open
- to start
- to initiate
- to enlighten or awaken
- to state
- to inform
How 启 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A door 户 being opened 口.
Radical: 口 (mouth), shared by 428 characters on this site.
How to remember 启
Picture a door 户 (hù) swinging open above a mouth or opening 口 (kǒu). Opening a door is the start of something, and opening a mind is enlightenment, so 启 (qǐ) means to open, to begin, and to enlighten.
启 rarely stands alone in modern speech. It appears in words like 启动 (qǐdòng, to start up), 启发 (qǐfā, to inspire), and 开启 (kāiqǐ, to open up or enable). Example: 电脑正在启动。(Diànnǎo zhèngzài qǐdòng.) The computer is starting up.
Common mistake: Learners often write the top as 尸 or forget the dot, but the top is 户 (hù), with a dot on top. Also do not confuse 启 (qǐ, third tone) with 起 (qǐ, to rise), which sounds the same. 启程 and 起程 both exist, but 启动 is never written with 起.
Common words with 启
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 启动 | qǐdòng | to start (a machine); (fig.) to set in motion | HSK 5 |
| 启发 | qǐfā | to enlighten; to explain (a text etc) | HSK 5 |
| 启事 | qǐshì | announcement (written, on billboard, letter, newspaper or website); to post information | HSK 5 |
| 开启 | kāiqǐ | to start; to begin; to initiate (an era, process, journey etc); (computing) to enable (a f | HSK 7-9 |
| 启示 | qǐshì | to reveal; to enlighten | HSK 7-9 |
| 启蒙 | qǐméng | to instruct the young; to initiate | HSK 7-9 |
| 启迪 | qǐdí | to edify; enlightenment | HSK 7-9 |
| 启程 | qǐchéng | to set out on a journey | |
| 重启 | chóngqǐ | to restart (a machine etc); to reactivate (a postponed project etc) | |
| 启用 | qǐyòng | to start using; (computing) to enable (a feature) | |
| 启航 | qǐháng | (of a ship) to set sail; (of an airplane) to take off | |
| 重新启动 | chóngxīnqǐdòng | to reboot; to restart | |
| 难以启齿 | nányǐqǐchǐ | to be too embarrassed to mention sth (idiom); to find it hard to speak about sth | |
| 启齿 | qǐchǐ | to open one's mouth; to start talking |
启 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 启
Learning 启 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 启
How many strokes are in 启?
启 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 启 mean?
启 (qǐ) means to open; to begin, to commence; to explain. A common word with it is 启动 (qǐdòng), meaning "to start (a machine); (fig.) to set in motion".
How do you pronounce 启?
启 is pronounced qǐ, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 启?
The radical of 启 is 口, which carries the idea of "mouth". Dictionaries list 启 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 启?
The traditional form of 启 is 唘, 啓 and 啟. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 启 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 启 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 启 is part of the HSK 5 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 启事 and 启示?
Both are read qǐshì. 启事 is a written public notice, such as a lost item notice. 启示 means a revelation or an insight you take from something.
What does 启蒙 mean?
启蒙 (qǐméng) means to teach beginners the basics or to open someone's mind. It is used for early education and also for the Enlightenment, 启蒙运动 (Qǐméng Yùndòng).