开动

• Pinyin: kāi dòng
• Hanzi breakdown: 开 = to open, start; 动 = heavy (重) + force (力) — to move

Meaning

To start (a machine); to set in motion; to begin eating.

Has two main uses: 1) Starting or operating a machine, vehicle, or mechanism; 2) Colloquially, beginning to eat a meal (开动 = dig in!). The second meaning is especially common in family and casual dining contexts. Collocates with 机器 (machine), 脑筋 (brains — to start thinking), 筷子 (chopsticks).

Examples

1. 工厂的全部生产线已经开动，正在加班加点赶订单。 All production lines in the factory have started running — they're working overtime to fill orders.
2. 菜都上齐了，大家开动吧，别客气！ All the dishes are served — everyone dig in, don't be shy!
3. 这道难题得开动脑筋好好想想，别急着放弃。 This difficult problem requires using your brain to think carefully — don't give up too quickly.

Usage Guide

Context: machinery, dining, thinking

Tone: casual to neutral

Do Say

• 大家开动吧！(Let's dig in!)
• 开动脑筋想想办法。(Use your brain and think of a solution.)

Don't Say

• 我开动了窗户。(开动 is for machines or eating — for opening windows, just use 打开)

Origin & History

开 (to start) + 动 (to move). To start something moving.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal