掀开 (xiān kāi) — to lift off (a cover, lid, etc.); to open (a book, container, etc.)

Definition

A separable verb meaning to lift or peel something open (a lid, cover, book) — implies a physical, often forceful action, unlike the more general 打开 which works for any kind of opening.

verb
to lift off (a cover, lid, etc.)to open (a book, container, etc.)

Examples

  • 掀开，。
    Tā qīng qīng de xiān kāi guō gài, kàn le kàn tāng zěn me yàng le.
    He gently lifted the lid of the pot to check on the soup.
  • 掀开，。
    Tā xiān kāi shū, fā xiàn lǐ miàn jiá zhe yì zhāng jiù zhào piàn.
    She opened the book and found an old photo tucked inside.
  • ，。
    Zhè kuài shí bǎn hěn zhòng, wǒ yí gè rén gēn běn xiān bù kāi.
    This stone slab is very heavy; I can't lift it open by myself at all.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

掀xiānlift
开kāiopen

掀 (lift) and 开 (open) combine: lift something until it is open.

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shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
欣
欣xīn掀xiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 扌 is the hand radical, showing an action done with the hand. The right part 欣 gives the character its sound.

Open 掀 →

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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