启动

• Pinyin: qǐ dòng
• Hanzi breakdown: 启 = 户 (door) + 口 (mouth), to open/enlighten; 动 = 云 + 力, to move

Meaning

To start; to launch; to activate. Setting something in motion, especially machines, programs, or projects.

Used for starting engines (启动汽车), launching programs (启动项目), booting computers (启动电脑), or initiating plans. Also used figuratively for beginning processes or campaigns. The noun form means 'startup' or 'launch.'

Examples

1. 冬天早上汽车有时候不太容易启动。 In winter mornings, cars are sometimes not easy to start.
2. 公司决定下个月启动新的市场推广计划。 The company decided to launch a new marketing plan next month.
3. 电脑启动速度变慢可能是因为软件太多了。 The computer's slow startup speed might be because there are too many programs.

Usage Guide

Context: technology, business, vehicles

Tone: technical

Do Say

• 请按这个按钮启动机器。(Press this button to start the machine.)
• 项目已经正式启动了。(The project has officially launched.)

Don't Say

• 启动你的工作。(For beginning daily work, use 开始 — 启动 implies initiating something new or mechanical)

Origin & History

启 (qǐ, to open/begin) + 动 (dòng, to move). To begin movement; to set in motion.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal