开枪

• Pinyin: kāi qiāng
• Hanzi breakdown: 开 = to open/fire; 枪 = 木 (wood) + 仓 (storehouse, phonetic) — gun, spear

Meaning

To fire a gun; to shoot.

The act of firing a gun, whether in combat, hunting, self-defense, or accidents. A straightforward but important term for news reports, crime stories, and military contexts. Collocates with 警察 (police), 射击 (shooting), 打死 (shoot dead), 警告 (warning).

Examples

1. 警察在多次警告无效后被迫开枪，击中了歹徒的腿部。 After multiple warnings failed, the police were forced to fire, hitting the criminal's leg.
2. 他声称是走火，但调查显示他是故意开枪的。 He claimed it was an accidental discharge, but the investigation showed he fired intentionally.
3. 士兵们听到命令后才能开枪，否则将受到军法处置。 Soldiers can only fire after receiving orders — otherwise they face military discipline.

Usage Guide

Context: news, crime, military, hunting

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 警察被迫开枪自卫。(The police were forced to fire in self-defense.)
• 不要轻易开枪！(Don't fire hastily!)

Don't Say

• 我开枪了照相机。(开枪 is specifically for firing guns — for cameras, use 拍照)

Origin & History

开 (to fire, discharge) + 枪 (gun). To fire a gun.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal