开办

• Pinyin: kāi bàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 开 = simplified from 開, two hands removing a bar — to open; 办 = simplified from 辦 — to handle, manage

Meaning

To set up; to establish; to start running (a business, school, etc.).

Refers to establishing and beginning to operate an organization, business, school, or program. Emphasizes the initiation phase — getting something up and running. More formal than 开 alone. Collocates with 学校 (school), 公司 (company), 培训班 (training class), 企业 (enterprise).

Examples

1. 政府鼓励年轻人创业，简化了开办公司的审批流程。 The government encourages young people to start businesses and has simplified the approval process for setting up companies.
2. 这所私立学校是由几位退休教授共同开办的。 This private school was jointly established by several retired professors.
3. 社区新开办了免费的老年人电脑培训班，报名非常踊跃。 The community recently started a free computer training class for seniors — registration has been very enthusiastic.

Usage Guide

Context: business, education, official

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我们计划明年开办一家咖啡店。(We plan to open a coffee shop next year.)
• 该培训中心开办已有十年。(This training center has been operating for ten years.)

Don't Say

• 我开办了电视。(开办 is for establishing organizations or programs, not turning on appliances — use 打开)

Origin & History

开 (to open, start) + 办 (to handle, run, manage). To start handling/running something.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal