Hanzi Stroke Logo
Hanzi Stroke

Making Chinese characters easy to write.

Sister Sites
Five Elements TestChinese-Idioms.com
AboutProduct UpdatesPrivacy PolicyTerms of Service
DICTIONARY
  • Chinese Dictionary
  • Pinyin Index
  • Radical Index
  • Character Components
  • HSK Dictionary
  • Character Compare
DICTIONARY
  • Chinese Dictionary
  • Pinyin Index
  • Radical Index
  • Character Components
  • HSK Dictionary
  • Character Compare
TOOLS

Practice & Review

  • Writing Practice
  • Flashcard Review
  • Dictation Practice
  • Worksheet Generator
  • Sentence Practice
  • Hanzi Sticker Match

Resources & Utilities

  • Worksheet Library
  • HSK Level Checker
  • Pinyin Converter

Fun & Culture

  • Name Generator
  • Zodiac Calculator
TOOLS

Practice & Review

  • Writing Practice
  • Flashcard Review
  • Dictation Practice
  • Worksheet Generator
  • Sentence Practice
  • Hanzi Sticker Match

Resources & Utilities

  • Worksheet Library
  • HSK Level Checker
  • Pinyin Converter

Fun & Culture

  • Name Generator
  • Zodiac Calculator
LEARN
  • Learning Center
  • Blog
  • Chinese Stroke Rules
  • Chinese Poetry
  • Pro Membership ✨
LEARN
  • Learning Center
  • Blog
  • Chinese Stroke Rules
  • Chinese Poetry
  • Pro Membership ✨

© 2026 Hanzi Stroke. All rights reserved.

Made with♥for Chinese learners.
HanziStroke Logo
Hanzi Stroke
By CharacterBrowse all characters A-Z
HSK ListsAll HSK versions overview
HSK 2.0
Practice & Review
Learning Essentials
  1. Home
  2. Dictionary
  3. 开始

开始 (kāi shǐ): To begin (Verb) — Meaning & Stroke Order

HSK 2.0Level 2
HSK 3.0Level 2
1.

Animated Stroke Order

Stroke order animation for 开始
314 learners have practiced this word
By PinyinSearch by pronunciation
By RadicalFind by radical component
By ComponentsLearn meaning and sound clues
Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 6
HSK 3.0
Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 6Level 7-9
HSK Course Books
Writing PracticePractice HSK and saved words
Flashcard ReviewSRS review for HSK and custom decks
Dictation PracticeListen and write characters
Worksheet GeneratorCreate practice sheets for free
Sentence PracticeWrite complete sentences in context
Hanzi Sticker MatchFree pinyin–hanzi matching game
Resources & Utilities
Worksheet LibraryHSK, Top 100 & themed PDFs
HSK Level CheckerCheck HSK level of any text
Pinyin ConverterConvert Chinese to Pinyin
Fun & Culture
Name GeneratorCreate your Chinese name
Zodiac CalculatorFind your zodiac animal
View All Tools
8 Basic Strokes GuideHot
Foundation of all characters
Pinyin Tones Guide
4 tones with audio examples
Chinese Handwriting Guide
Daily practice routine
HSK 3.0 Complete GuideNew
New exam format explained
HSK 1 Common Mistakes
Avoid beginner errors
Topics & Culture
Chinese Numbers 1-1000
Count like a native
Time & Dates Guide
Tell time in Chinese
Family Members Guide
30+ family terms
2026 Fire Horse YearHot
Zodiac meaning & luck
Top 100 Characters
Most frequent, free PDF
View All Blog Posts
2.

Free Printable Worksheet: 开始

开始 writing worksheet PDF preview
Download Worksheet
Download full HSK 3.0 Level 2 PDF pack
3.

Character Breakdown

开 • kāi • to switch on; open • HSK 2.0 L1
HSK 1
kāi开

to switch on; open

始 • shǐ • begin, start, commence
shǐ始

begin, start, commence

Word Info

Pinyinkāi shǐ
Meaningto begin
Characters2
SyntaxVerb
4.

Readings & Senses

kāi shǐ(kai shi)
1. [verb]to begin[HSK2]
2. [verb/noun]to begin[HSK 3.0 · L2]
5.

How to Use 开始 in Sentences

Verb + Complementwith早
kāi开
shǐ始
de得
zǎo早
neutral
start early
Adjective + Nounwith新
xīn新
de的
kāi开
shǐ始
Verb + Objectwith工作
kāi开
shǐ始
gōng工
zuò作
Adverb + Verbwith马上
mǎ马
shàng上
kāi开
shǐ始
6.

Example Sentences with 开始

wǒ我
men们
kāi开
shǐ始
xué学
xí习

HSK 2 Words

More vocabulary at the same HSK level as 开始.

  • 便宜pián yicheap
  • 手机shǒu jīmobile phone
  • 孩子hái zichild; children
  • 弟弟dì diyounger brother
  • 咖啡kā fēicoffee
  • 帮助bāng zhùto help
  • 妻子qī ziwife
  • 知道zhī daoknow; realise; be aware of
  • 跳舞tiào wǔto dance
  • 打篮球dǎ lán qiúplay basketball
  • 手表shǒu biǎowatch
  • 羊肉yáng ròumutton
View all HSK 2 words →

Words Sharing Characters

More common words that include characters from 开始.

Words with 开
  • 开车kāi chēto drive a car
  • 开学kāi xuéfoundation of a University or College
  • 打开dǎ kāito open
  • 分开
neutral
new beginning
neutral
start work
neutral
start immediately
ba吧
。
Let's start learning.
huì会
yì议
jiāng将
zài在
xià下
wǔ午
sān三
diǎn点
kāi开
shǐ始
。
The meeting will begin at three o'clock in the afternoon.
huì会
yì议
mǎ马
shàng上
yào要
kāi开
shǐ始
le了
。
The meeting is about to begin.
nǐ你
shén什
me么
shí时
hòu候
kāi开
shǐ始
gōng工
zuò作
?
When do you start work?
diàn电
yǐng影
wǎn晚
shang上
qī七
diǎn点
kāi开
shǐ始
。
The movie starts at 7 p.m.
fēn kāi
to separate
  • 开会kāi huìto hold a meeting
  • 开机kāi jīto start an engine
  • 开花kāi huāto bloom; to blossom; to flower
  • 离开lí kāileave
  • Words with 始
    • 始终shǐ zhōngfrom beginning to end; from start to finish; throughout
    • 原始yuán shǐoriginal; firsthand; primitive
    • 创始人chuàng shǐ rénFounder / Originator
    • 自始至终zìshǐ-zhìzhōngFrom beginning to end / Throughout
    • 初始chū shǐinitial, beginning
    • 秦始皇qín shǐ huángQin Shi Huang (First Emperor of Qin)
    • 一元复始yī yuán fù shǐA new cycle begins; the start of a new year or a fresh beginning.
    • 始作俑者shǐ zuò yǒng zhěoriginator of a bad practice