揭开 (jiē kāi) — to uncover (lit. or fig.), to reveal

Definition

A verb meaning 'to lift off / uncover' something that was covering or hidden — used literally (a lid, veil) and, more often at HSK 7, figuratively (揭开了秘密, 真相, 面纱) to mean 'to reveal'.

verb
to uncover (lit. or fig.)to reveal

Examples

  • 揭开，。
    Tā màn màn jiē kāi le guō gài, yì gǔ xiāng qì piāo le chū lái.
    He slowly lifted the pot lid, and a puff of fragrance wafted out.
  • 揭开。
    Jì zhě jīng guò diào chá jiē kāi le shì jiàn de zhēn xiàng.
    After investigating, the reporter uncovered the truth of the incident.
  • 揭开。
    Zhè bù jì lù piàn jiē kāi le nà duàn lì shǐ de shén mì miàn shā.
    This documentary lifted the mysterious veil over that period of history.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

揭jiēlift
开kāiopen

揭 gives the lifting or peeling action, and 开 gives the resulting opening, so uncover.

Characters in this word

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
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
曷
曷hé揭jiē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

揭 pairs 扌, the hand radical (full form 手), with 曷, which supplies the sound; the hand part fits meanings like lifting or taking off.

Open 揭 →

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 →

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