Meaning

Primary

To Open

Alternative

To Be Open

Word Type

intransitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

You should know 開ける by now. This word is similar to that, except it has to do with when things are just open. It's the same thing, though. The meaning is also to open.

Reading

あく
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Do you remember the reading for 開ける, which you learned in level 10? That's right, it's あける! So if you know the reading of that word (I hope you do!) then you can apply that knowledge here.

Just a quick side note — 開く can also be read as ひらく, but we're going to focus on the あく reading here. Since ひらく has slightly different meanings, we won't accept it as a reading for this word, so be sure to enter あく!

Context

Pattern of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • ドアが開く

    the door opens

    戸が開く

    the door opens

    口が開く

    a mouth opens (of a person, a bag, etc.), someone speaks

Context Sentences

このお店は何時に開きますか。

What time does this shop open?

会場はまだ開かないから、とりあえずビールを買いに行こう。

The venue hasn't opened yet, so let's go get a beer for the time being.

あの... 社会の窓が開いていますよ。

Um... Your fly is open.

Kanji Composition