opening (a bottle, container); broaching
Refers to the act of opening something sealed, especially a bottle or container, for the first time.
Please open the wine bottle.
beginning; opening; commencement; first sale
Used for the start of an event, sales period, or season. Often implies the very first instance or transaction.
Today is the start of the sale, and there's been a line since morning.
The initial sales of the new product are strong.
Standard kanji form for both senses.
Alternate kanji form; 明け suggests 'beginning' nuance.
Compound of 口 (mouth, opening) and 開け (opening, from 開ける). The literal meaning 'opening the mouth' extended to opening containers and then to the beginning of events or sales.