開ける · ichidan verb
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 開ける | 開けない |
| Polite | 開けます | 開けません |
| Past polite | 開けました | 開けませんでした |
| Past | 開けた | 開けなかった |
| Te-form | 開けて | 開けないで |
| Desire | 開けたい | 開けたくない |
| Potential | 開けられるalso 開けれる | 開けられないalso 開けれない |
| Passive | 開けられる | 開けられない |
| Causative | 開けさせる | 開けさせない |
| Causative passive | 開けさせられる | 開けさせられない |
| Volitional | 開けよう | |
| Polite volitional | 開けましょう | |
| Imperative | 開けろ | 開けるな |
| Conditional | 開ければ | 開けなければ |
| Tara conditional | 開けたら | 開けなかったら |
ichidan verb, transitive verb
Only when written 開ける
Transitive 開ける for opening something closed, such as a door, window, box, parcel, or lock. The object normally takes を.
It's hot, so please open the window.
誕生日のプレゼントを開けた。
I opened my birthday present.
玄関の鍵を開ける。
I unlock the front door.
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.
この店は朝七時に開けます。
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.
資料を置くために机の上を空けた。
I cleared space on the desk to put the documents down.
彼はグラスを一気に空けた。
He emptied his glass in one go.
ichidan verb, transitive verb
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.
今月末までにアパートを空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.
出張で三日間家を空けます。
I will be away from home for three days on a business trip.
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
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.
夜が明ける前に出発した。
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.
ようやく梅雨が明けた。
The rainy season finally ended.
年が明けたら、新しい仕事を探すつもりです。
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.
金曜の夜を空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.
壁に小さな穴を開けた。
I made a small hole in the wall.
I unlocked the front door and went inside.
This store opens at nine.
I gave up my seat so he could sit down.
I was away from home for three days on a business trip.
Please keep Friday evening free.
Please open your eyes slowly.
開ける is the everyday verb for opening doors, containers, and locks, while 開く is used for wider or more deliberate opening, such as books, meetings, or accounts.
開ける means to open something like a door or shop, while 閉める means to close it.
開ける (as 明ける) describes night ending and day breaking, while 暮れる describes day ending as night falls.
開ける (to open, e.g. one's eyes) is the opposite action of つぶる (to close one's eyes).
開ける means to open something, the direct opposite of 締め切る's sense of shutting something tightly closed.
開ける means to open something up, the direct opposite of 塞ぐ, which means to block or close it off.
空ける means to empty out or leave space, the opposite of 詰める's sense of packing something tightly full.
明ける is intransitive and means 'to dawn' or 'for a period to end', while 明かす is transitive and means to spend a night or to reveal something.
空ける (あける) is the common transitive verb meaning 'to empty/vacate something', while 空ける (うつける) is a rare intransitive verb meaning 'to become empty or vacant'; they share kanji but differ in reading and transitivity.
開ける written あける is a common transitive verb meaning to physically open something like a door, while 開ける written ひらける is intransitive and means for a view, prospects, or a region to open up figuratively.
明ける is a verb meaning 'to dawn' or 'to end (of a period)', whereas 明くる is a pre-noun adjectival meaning 'next' that only modifies time nouns.
rise of the curtain; opening of a play · beginning; start; opening
left open; left ajar · outspoken; frank; blunt
opening (a bottle, container); broaching · beginning; opening; commencement; first sale
pry open; force open; wrench open
left open; left ajar · outspoken; frank
newly commenced; just started
opening; beginning; commencement
lock-opening; lock-picking
Common spelling when something is made empty, vacated, left unused, or kept free; also seen for making a hole when the focus is the empty space.
開ける means to open something, the direct opposite of 閉ざす's sense of firmly closing something.
開ける means to open something, the direct opposite of 封じる's sense of sealing it shut.
明ける means night ends and dawn breaks, the opposite of 更ける, where night grows deeper and later.
開ける means to open (a shop or business), the opposite of 仕舞う used for shutting down an operation.
hole punch; punch; stiletto
just opened; freshly opened
opening and shutting; opening and closing
open; frank; unguarded
open up and clear out; vacate by opening
open wide; throw open; leave open
open wide; throw open; leave open