What is the difference between "開けます", "開ける", "開く", "開通する", "打ち解ける"?

"開けます" means "to open", "開ける" means "to open (something)", "開く" means "to open (intransitive)", "開通する" means "to open (for traffic), to be completed (e.g., a tunnel, bridge, line)", "打ち解ける" means "to open one's heart, to become friendly, to relax".

Quintuple VS

Synonym Boundary: "開けます", "開ける", "開く", "開通する", "打ち解ける"

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

開ける

あける (akeru)

N5 / CEFR

Japanese Option C

開く

あく (aku)

N4 / CEFR

Japanese Option D

開通する

かいつうする (kaitsū suru)

N3 / CEFR

Japanese Option E

打ち解ける

うちとける (uchitokeru)

N2 / CEFR

Quintuple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "open" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "開けます", "開ける", "開く", "開通する", "打ち解ける" 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..
開ける (あける (akeru) - Level: N5): Maps to "to open (something)" and is used when Transitive verb.
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.
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..
打ち解ける (うちとける (uchitokeru) - Level: N2): Maps to "to open one's heart, to become friendly, to relax" and is used when To become less reserved, more relaxed and informal with someone, moving from a formal or tense state to a more comfortable and open one. Often used with the particle 「に」..

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 "開ける"

ドアを開けてください。

Please open the door.

Context for "開く"

ドアが自動的に開きます。

The door opens automatically.

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 "打ち解ける"

彼はどんな人ともすぐに打ち解けることができる。

He can quickly become friendly with anyone.

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.".