开头

kāi tóu

HSK 3.0 Level 6 Verb Common

Save to list

Definitions

1. beginning
2. to start

Stop forgetting what you study.
Build recall daily.

Try HanyuGuide's Chinese review system with multiple choice, typed recall, tone-aware practice, and reviews scheduled before memory fades.

Start Free Trial $9.99 / year

Lifetime for $19.99 Try the 30-second demo

Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 结束 jié shù 结束 jié shù termination to end, finish: termination

Related words

2 items

• 起始 qǐ shǐ 起始 qǐ shǐ to originate start, commencement; formal, often used in written or technical contexts: to originate
• 开端 kāi duān 开端 kāi duān start beginning, start (as a noun); often used in literary or formal settings: start

Synonyms

1 item

• 开始 kāi shǐ 开始 kāi shǐ to begin to start (doing something); more common for beginning an action or process: to begin

Usage notes

Collocations

开头 often pairs with 万事开头难 (wàn shì kāi tóu nán) meaning 'everything is hard at the beginning', a common idiom.

Common mistakes

Do not confuse 开头 (to start; noun: beginning) with 开动 (kāi dòng, to set in motion, like a machine). Use 开头 for abstract or event beginnings.

Example Sentences

1 shown

万事 开头 难。

Everything is hard at the beginning.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 开头

• 万事开头难 万事开头难 wàn shì kāi tóu nán: every beginning is difficult (idiom)

Child Words of 开头

• 开 开 kāi: to open
• 头 头 tóu: head