开张

• Pinyin: kāi zhāng
• Hanzi breakdown: 开 = to open; 张 = 弓 (bow) + 长 (long) — to stretch, spread, open

Meaning

To open for business; to start doing business; grand opening.

Refers to a business opening its doors — either for the first time (grand opening) or at the start of each business day. Also used colloquially to mean making the first sale of the day. Very common in commercial contexts. Collocates with 新店 (new store), 第一天 (first day), 生意 (business).

Examples

1. 这家网红餐厅明天开张，据说前一百名顾客可以享受半价优惠。 This influencer-famous restaurant opens tomorrow — rumor has it the first hundred customers get 50% off.
2. 早上开张第一单生意就是个大客户，老板心情特别好。 The first sale right after opening was a big customer — the boss was in an especially good mood.
3. 受疫情影响，很多小店开张不到半年就倒闭了。 Due to the pandemic, many small shops closed within half a year of opening.

Usage Guide

Context: business, retail, celebration

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 祝你新店开张大吉！(Wishing you great luck on your grand opening!)
• 今天还没开张呢，一个客人都没来。(Haven't made a sale today yet — not a single customer.)

Don't Say

• 我的学校开张了。(开张 is for commercial businesses — for schools starting, use 开学)

Origin & History

开 (to open) + 张 (to spread, open up). To open up (for business).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal