开幕

• Pinyin: kāi mù
• Hanzi breakdown: 开 = simplified from 開, depicting hands removing a bar from a door; 幕 = 艹 (grass) + 莫, originally a cloth covering

Meaning

To open; to begin; opening (of an event). The start of a show, ceremony, or event.

Specifically refers to the formal beginning of events such as conferences, exhibitions, sports games, theatrical performances, or ceremonies. The opposite is 闭幕 (closing). Can function as both a verb and part of compound nouns like 开幕式.

Examples

1. 电影节将于下周五正式开幕。 The film festival will officially open next Friday.
2. 奥运会开幕那天，全世界都在关注。 On the day the Olympics opened, the whole world was watching.
3. 展览会开幕后吸引了大量观众。 The exhibition attracted a large audience after opening.

Usage Guide

Context: events, ceremonies, news

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 博览会明天开幕。(The expo opens tomorrow.)
• 开幕致辞由市长进行。(The opening speech will be given by the mayor.)

Don't Say

• 商店开幕了。(For stores, use 开业 or 开张 — 开幕 is for events and ceremonies)

Origin & History

开 (kāi, open) + 幕 (mù, curtain/screen). Originally refers to opening the curtain, metaphorically meaning to start an event.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal