開あける

ichidan verb, transitive verb

open for business

Only when written 開ける

Used for opening a shop, office, counter, or similar place for the day's business. 開ける emphasizes making it open and available to customers.

• この店みせは朝あさ七しち時じに開あけます。

  This shop opens for business at seven in the morning.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

empty; clear space; make room

Only when written 空ける

Especially 空ける. Used when making a container, surface, seat, or area empty or available, either by removing things or by leaving space.

• 資し料りょうを置おくために机つくえの上うえを空あけた。

  I cleared space on the desk to put the documents down.

• 彼かれはグラスを一いっ気きに空あけた。

  He emptied his glass in one go.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

move out; vacate; clear out

Only when written 空ける

Especially 空ける. Used for vacating a room, apartment, seat, or occupied space so that it is no longer being used by the person or things that were there.

• 今こん月げつ末まつまでにアパートを空あけなければならない。

  I have to move out of the apartment by the end of this month.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

be away from; leave temporarily

Only when written 空ける

Especially in 家を空ける, meaning to be away from home for a period of time. The place left behind is marked with を.

• 出しゅっ張ちょうで三みっ日か間かん家いえを空あけます。

  I will be away from home for three days on a business trip.

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

dawn; grow light

Only when written 明ける

Intransitive 明ける for night ending and daylight coming. Common in 夜が明ける and 空が明ける-like descriptions of daybreak.

• 夜よるが明あける前まえに出しゅっ発ぱつした。

  We left before dawn.

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

end of a period or season; beginning of the New Year

Only when written 明ける

Intransitive 明ける marks a time boundary: a season or set period ends, or the year turns into a new one. Common collocations include 梅雨が明ける, 喪が明ける, and 年が明ける.

• ようやく梅雨つゆが明あけた。

  The rainy season finally ended.

• 年としが明あけたら、新あたらしい仕し事ごとを探さがすつもりです。

  Once the New Year begins, I plan to look for a new job.

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

leave time open; make time; keep a schedule free

Only when written 空ける

Used transitively with a time, date, or schedule slot as the object, as in 予定を空ける or 金曜の夜を空ける. 空ける is the normal spelling for keeping time vacant or available.

• 金きん曜ようの夜よるを空あけておいてください。

  Please keep Friday evening open.

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

make a hole; open up a hole

Only when written 開ける / 空ける

Used with 穴をあける. 開ける is standard for making an opening; 空ける may also be used when emphasizing the resulting empty space.

• 壁かべに小ちいさな穴あなを開あけた。

  I made a small hole in the wall.