How to say "opening" in Japanese

• オープンJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verb, transitive verbA loanword used for the opening of a new store, golf course, runway, or similar: the occasion when a new facility first starts operating.
  新あたらしいショッピングモールが街まちのはずれにオープンした。↗

  A new shopping mall opened on the edge of town.
• 開封かいふうCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbOpening a letter, parcel, or other sealed item: the nuance is breaking a seal to reach the contents, as when opening mail or a delivered package.
  彼かれはその手紙てがみを開封かいふうしないで送り返おくりかえした。↗

  He sent the letter back unopened.
• 開放かいほうJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbOpening a door, window, or the like, with the nuance of leaving it open: it covers both the act of opening something that shuts and the resulting open state.
• オープニングCommon
  nounA broad loanword covering an opening, start, or launch: the beginning part of an event, performance, or similar, rather than the physical act of opening an object.
• 序盤じょばんCommon
  nounSpecifically the opening of a game such as go or chess: the early stage of play, not the opening of letters, doors, or events.

Choose by what is opened: 「オープン」 for a new store or facility starting operation, 開封 for sealed letters and parcels, 開放 for doors and windows, 「オープニング」 for the start of an event, 序盤 for a game's opening.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• オープンopening (a new store, golf course, runway, etc.)
• 開封かいふうopening (a letter, parcel, etc.)
• 開放かいほうopening (a door, window, etc.)
• オープニングopening
• 序盤じょばんopening (in a game of go, chess, etc.)
• 穴あなhole
• 開催かいさいholding (a conference, exhibition, etc.)
• 扉とびらdoor
• 隙間すきまgap
• 冒頭ぼうとうbeginning
• 開通かいつうopening (of a new road, railway, etc.)
• ひらきopening
• 開口かいこうopening
• 開館かいかんopening (for that day's business; of a library, museum, cinema, etc.)
• 隙すきgap
• 開設かいせつestablishment
• 切り口きりくちcut end
• 発端ほったんorigin
• 開場かいじょうopening (the doors of a venue)
• 開所かいしょopening (of a new office, facility, etc.)
• 開局かいきょくopening (of a broadcasting station, post office, bureau, etc.)
• 新開しんかいopening (of uncultivated land)
• 販路はんろmarket (for goods, services, etc.)
• 始業しぎょうstart of work
• 欠員けついんvacant position
• はじめbeginning
• 催しもよおしevent
• 働き口はたらきぐちposition
• 隙げきgap
• 口開けくちあけopening (of a bottle)
• 蓋開けふたあけopening
• 開披かいひopening (a letter)
• 開室かいしつopening (e.g. library, museum, etc)
• 差し入れ口さしいれぐちopening (e.g. in a mailbox)
• 口部分くちぶぶんopening (e.g. of a bag)
• 開け口あけくちopening
• 劈頭へきとうbeginning
• 切れ口きれくちcut end
• 就職口しゅうしょくぐちposition
• 突破口とっぱこうbreakthrough (research, etc.)
• 初公開はつこうかいdebut
• 開栓かいせんunstopping
• 空隙くうげきvacant space
• 口くちopening
• 開幕かいまくopening (of an event)
• 空きあきvacancy
• 幕開けまくあけbeginning (e.g. of an era)
• 抜け穴ぬけあなhole one can go through
• 谷間たにまpart or place that has been left behind
• 空き間あきまgap (between two objects)
• 開帳かいちょうopening (a gambling house)
• 幕開きまくあきbeginning (e.g. of an era)
• めspacing (between crossed strands of a net, mesh, etc.)