Ichidan verb, transitive verb

  1. to open (a door, etc.), to unwrap (e.g. parcel, package), to unlock.
  2. to open (for business, etc.).
  3. to empty, to remove, to make space, to make room. Esp. 空ける.
  4. to move out, to clear out. Esp. 空ける.
  5. to be away from (e.g. one's house), to leave (temporarily). Esp. 空ける.

Ichidan verb, intransitive verb

  1. to dawn, to grow light. Esp. 明ける.
  2. to end (of a period, season). Esp. 明ける.
  3. to begin (of the New Year). Esp. 明ける.
  4. to leave (one's schedule) open, to make time (for). Esp. 明ける.
  5. to make (a hole), to open up (a hole).

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
 
 
開ける あける
 
 
空ける あける
 
 
明ける あける

Contained Kanji Breakdown

open, unfold, unseal
カイ ひら.く あ.く (3rd, N4)
gate, counter for cannons
モン かど と (2nd, N2)
open, initiate, begin
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ いっ ひと- (1st, N5)
twenty, twenty or letter H radical (no. 55)
キョウ ク にじゅう (Kentei 1)