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开设 (kāi shè) — to open, to set up (a business, shop, branch, etc.); to offer, to launch (courses, services, etc.)

Definition

Used when an organization launches something new — a branch, course, or service. Differs from 开通 (routes/accounts) and 开业 (a business starting up): 开设 emphasizes the act of founding and running it.

verb
to opento set up (a business, shop, branch, etc.)to offerto launch (courses, services, etc.)

Examples

  • 开设。
    Zhè jiā yín háng jīn nián zài jiāo qū kāi shè le yì jiā xīn fēn háng.
    This bank opened a new branch in the suburbs this year.
  • 开设。
    Dà xué jīn nián kāi shè le rén gōng zhì néng zhuān yè.
    The university launched an artificial intelligence major this year.
  • 开设。
    Gōng sī xià ge yuè jiāng kāi shè yí xiàng xīn de huì yuán fú wù.
    The company will launch a new membership service next month.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

开kāiopen
设shèestablish

“开” and “设” both mean to open or establish, giving the sense of opening or setting up something.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 設; 设 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
埶
埶yì設shè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 設 uses 言 (speech) to show the meaning and 埶 to give the sound; this explanation is for 設, not the simplified 设.

Open 设 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Business & Commerce

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