开式 (kāi shì) — (technical) open type; open style (contrasted with 闭式)

Definition

Technical term for 'open-type' design (e.g. 开式系统, 开式结构) — used mainly in engineering and technical writing to describe systems that are not sealed or closed.

adjective
(technical) open typeopen style (contrasted with 闭式)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 开式。
    Zhè zhǒng kāi shì shè jì hěn shì hé hù wài shǐ yòng.
    This open design is very suitable for outdoor use.
  • 开式，。
    Tā men xuǎn zé le kāi shì jié gòu, fāng biàn wéi xiū.
    They chose an open structure for easy maintenance.
  • 开式。
    kāi shì Xì tǒng bǐ bì shì xì tǒng gèng jīng jì.
    Open systems are more economical than closed systems.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

开kāiopen
式shìtype

Open combines with style to mean open type.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 開; 开 is its simplified writing.

  • 門門méndoor
  • 一一yīlatch and/or wooden pole that shuts a door
  • 廾廾gǒnga pair of hands

The traditional form 開 shows 廾, a pair of hands, and 一, a latch or pole, inside 門, a door: hands opening a latched door. The simplified 开 is a shorthand form, so its parts are not the original pieces.

Open 开 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
工工gōngwork
Sound part声符shēngfú
弋
弋yì式shì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

式 pairs 工, meaning work, with 弋, which gives the sound.

Open 式 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.