What is the difference between "開けます", "空く", "開通する", "うちとける", "公開市場操作"?

"開けます" means "to open", "空く" means "to open, to be vacant, to be available, to become empty", "開通する" means "to open (for traffic), to be completed (e.g., a tunnel, bridge, line)", "うちとける" means "to open one's heart, to feel at home, to relax, to be frank", "公開市場操作" means "Open Market Operations".

Quintuple VS

Synonym Boundary: "開けます", "空く", "開通する", "うちとける", "公開市場操作"

All represent the core concept "open", but require precise selection.

Japanese Option A

開けます

あけます (akemasu)

N5 / CEFR

Japanese Option B

空く

あく (aku)

N4 / CEFR

Japanese Option C

開通する

かいつうする (kaitsū suru)

N3 / CEFR

Japanese Option D

うちとける

うちとける (uchitokeru)

N2 / CEFR

Japanese Option E

公開市場操作

こうかいしじょうそうさ (koukaishijousousa)

C2 / CEFR

Quintuple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "open" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "開けます", "空く", "開通する", "うちとける", "公開市場操作" based on context.

開けます (あけます (akemasu) - Level: N5): Maps to "to open" and is used when Transitive verb. Used for opening doors, windows, books, shops, eyes, etc. The object is marked with を..
空く (あく (aku) - Level: N4): Maps to "to open, to be vacant, to be available, to become empty" and is used when An intransitive verb. Refers to something becoming empty, available, or a space opening up. For example, 席が空く.
開通する (かいつうする (kaitsū suru) - Level: N3): Maps to "to open (for traffic), to be completed (e.g., a tunnel, bridge, line)" and is used when Used for infrastructure like roads, railways, tunnels, or new services becoming available for public use. It's an intransitive verb..
うちとける (うちとける (uchitokeru) - Level: N2): Maps to "to open one's heart, to feel at home, to relax, to be frank" and is used when Describes the process of becoming comfortable and relaxed with someone, allowing one's true self to show. Often implies breaking down barriers. 心を開き、親しくなる様子を表します。.
公開市場操作 (こうかいしじょうそうさ (koukaishijousousa) - Level: C2): Maps to "Open Market Operations" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR C2 vocabulary syllabus..

Mixing these up can easily lead to unnatural translations. Refer to the bilingual context cards below to master the boundaries!

Context for "開けます"

窓を開けます。

I open the window.

Context for "空く"

会議室が空いていますか。

Is the meeting room available?

Context for "開通する"

新しい高速道路が来月開通する予定だ。

The new highway is scheduled to open next month.

Context for "うちとける"

初めて会った人ともすぐにうちとけることができる。

I can quickly feel at ease even with people I meet for the first time.

Context for "公開市場操作"

私は公開市場操作に興味があります。

I am interested in Open Market Operations.

Synonym Mastery Challenge

Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?

Fill in the blank: "窓を＿＿＿。" (Meaning: "I open the window.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Remember: "開けます" is correct here because it represents "to open" in the context: "I open the window.".