HSK Level 2

开学

kāi xué

school opens; term begins

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Example Sentences

明天是开学的日子。

Míngtiān shì kāixué de rìzi.

Tomorrow is the first day of school.

我很期待开学。

Wǒ hěn qídài kāixué.

I'm looking forward to the start of school.

开学了,我要好好学习。

Kāixuéle, wǒ yào hǎohao xuéxí.

Now that school has started, I will study hard.

Synonyms

开学典礼 (kāi xué diǎn lǐ)

opening ceremony

新学期 (xīn xué qī)

new semester

Antonyms

放学 (fàngxué)

school's out

毕业 (bìyè)

graduation

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 开学 (kāixué) is composed of two characters: 开 (kāi) and 学 (xué). The character 开 (kāi) means "to open" or "to begin," while the character 学 (xué) means "to learn" or "to study." Together, the two characters 开学 (kāixué) mean "to begin school" or "to start the school year."The word 开学 (kāixué) is first recorded in the Chinese dictionary Shuowen Jiezi, which was compiled in the 2nd century AD. In the Shuowen Jiezi, the character 开 (kāi) is defined as "to open a door or window," while the character 学 (xué) is defined as "to learn from a teacher." The combination of the two characters 开学 (kāixué) is defined as "to begin school."The word 开学 (kāixué) is commonly used in Chinese to refer to the beginning of the school year. It is also used to refer to the opening of a new school or the start of a new semester. In addition, the word 开学 (kāixué) can be used figuratively to refer to the beginning of a new phase or chapter in one's life.