Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "開けます", "開く", "空く", "開通する"
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
開く
あく (aku)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
空く
あく (aku)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
開通する
かいつうする (kaitsū suru)
N3 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "open" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "開けます", "開く", "空く", "開通する" 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..
- 開く (あく (aku) - Level: N4): Maps to "to open (intransitive)" and is used when Intransitive verb. Used when something opens on its own or is opened by an unspecified agent.
- 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..
Context for "開けます"
窓を開けます。
I open the window.
Context for "開く"
ドアが自動的に開きます。
The door opens automatically.
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.
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.".