啟 meaning and stroke order
To open; to begin, to commence; to explain
How to write 啟, stroke by stroke
11 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
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
Meaning of 啟
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to open
- to start
- to initiate
- to enlighten or awaken
- to state
- to inform
How 啟 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. To knock 攵 on a door 启; 启 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 口 (mouth), shared by 428 characters on this site.
How to remember 啟
On the left is 启 (qǐ), a door with a mouth 口 under it, and on the right is 攵, a hand tapping or knocking. Picture someone knocking on a door until it opens, which gives you the ideas of opening and beginning.
啟 is the traditional form used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, while mainland China writes 启. It mostly appears in words about starting or enlightening, such as 啟動 (qǐdòng) and 啟發 (qǐfā). Example: 這本書給了我很多啟發。(Zhè běn shū gěi le wǒ hěn duō qǐfā.) This book inspired me a lot.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 啟事 (qǐshì, a posted announcement) and 啟示 (qǐshì, a revelation or lesson), because they sound exactly the same. Also do not confuse 攵 on the right with 文 or 夂. It has a short slanted stroke on top.
Common words with 啟
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 啟動 | qǐdòng | to start (a machine); (fig.) to set in motion | HSK 5 |
| 啟發 | qǐfā | to enlighten; to explain (a text etc) | HSK 5 |
| 啟事 | qǐshì | announcement (written, on billboard, letter, newspaper or website); to post information | HSK 5 |
| 開啟 | kāiqǐ | to start; to begin; to initiate (an era, process, journey etc); (computing) to enable (a f | HSK 7-9 |
| 啟示 | qǐshì | to reveal; to enlighten | HSK 7-9 |
| 啟蒙 | qǐméng | to instruct the young; to initiate | HSK 7-9 |
| 啟迪 | qǐdí | to edify; enlightenment | HSK 7-9 |
| 啟程 | qǐchéng | to set out on a journey | |
| 重啟 | chóngqǐ | to restart (a machine etc); to reactivate (a postponed project etc) | |
| 啟用 | qǐyòng | to start using; (computing) to enable (a feature) | |
| 啟航 | qǐháng | (of a ship) to set sail; (of an airplane) to take off | |
| 重新啟動 | chóngxīnqǐdòng | to reboot; to restart | |
| 難以啟齒 | nányǐqǐchǐ | to be too embarrassed to mention sth (idiom); to find it hard to speak about sth | |
| 啟齒 | qǐchǐ | to open one's mouth; to start talking |
Questions about 啟
How many strokes are in 啟?
啟 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 啟 mean?
啟 (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 啟?
啟 is pronounced qǐ, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 啟?
The radical of 啟 is 口, which carries the idea of "mouth". Dictionaries list 啟 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 啟?
啟 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 启, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 開 (kāi) and 啟 (qǐ)?
開 is the everyday word for opening a door, a shop, or a machine. 啟 is more formal and literary, and it usually appears in compounds like 開啟 (kāiqǐ) or 啟動 (qǐdòng) rather than alone.
Why do I see 啟 at the end of letters or notices?
In formal writing 啟 can mean to state or inform. Older style letters and official notices may end with a signature followed by 啟, meaning roughly 'respectfully stated by'.