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开除 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
开除kāichúto expelHSK 7, v, rank #2295, Hard
kāichú(kai1chu2) T1
  1. 1to expel
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March 24, 2026
开除(開除)kāichú(kai1chu2)

开除 (kāichú) means to expel or dismiss someone from a group, institution, or organization, often used in educational or professional contexts. It conveys a formal action taken when someone fails to meet expected standards or violates rules.

Frequency#2295DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese educational culture, expulsion is often viewed as a significant and serious action, reflecting the importance placed on discipline and adherence to rules. It can also influence a student's future opportunities.

Memory Tip

Imagine a door (开) being opened to let someone (a student or employee) out (除) because they broke the rules. The 'kai' sounds like 'key,' which you use to open the door, and 'chu' can remind you of 'chew,' as in chewing someone out for their behavior.

Meanings of 开除

kāichú(kai1chu2)
1to expel
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 开除

开除Simplified
開除Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2295Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2

Podcast: 开除

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Podcast: 开除

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AI Study Notes for 开除

Quick Contrast

解雇 (jiěgù) vs 开除 (kāichú): Use 解雇 for dismissing an employee specifically in a work context, while 开除 is broader and can apply to expulsion from schools or organizations.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a door (开) being opened to let someone (a student or employee) out (除) because they broke the rules. The 'kai' sounds like 'key,' which you use to open the door, and 'chu' can remind you of 'chew,' as in chewing someone out for their behavior.

Usage Notes

This term is formal and typically used in institutional contexts, such as schools or workplaces. A common mistake is to confuse it with '解雇' (jiěgù), which specifically means to fire someone from a job. Be mindful of the tone: '开' should be pronounced with a high and level tone.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 开除 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to employment and education. Focus on understanding context and synonyms, such as '解雇' and '退学' (tuìxué, to drop out), to enrich your vocabulary.

Cultural Note

In Chinese educational culture, expulsion is often viewed as a significant and serious action, reflecting the importance placed on discipline and adherence to rules. It can also influence a student's future opportunities.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 开除 with 退学 (tuìxué, to drop out), thinking they are interchangeable. Remember, 开除 implies a formal expulsion, while 退学 indicates a voluntary decision to leave.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 开除

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Component Characters

开kāito open
HSK 14 strokes廾
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除chúto get rid of
HSK 69 strokes阝
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Write 开除

开
除

Practice writing 开除 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 开除

开除 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons1
Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

他违反了规定，因而被公司____了。

He violated the regulations and was consequently dismissed by the company.

Example Sentences for 开除 (9)

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1
哪个校长只要犯了这样的错误都会被开除。

nǎ gè xiào cháng zhī yào fàn le zhè yàng de cuò wù dū huì bèi kāi chú。

Any head teacher who made errors like this would be chucked out.
2
一犯错误可能当天就会被开除。

yī fàn cuò wù kě néng dāng tiān jiù huì bèi kāi chú。

People who make mistakes can be given the sack the same day.
3
在又试用了4个月后，她被开除了。

zài yòu shì yòng le4 4 gè yuè， hòu ， tā bèi kāi。

After a further four-month extension of her probation period, she was sacked.
4
如果我今天上午不去上课，我就要被开除了。

rú guǒ wǒ jīn tiān shàng wǔ bù qù shàng kè， ， wǒ jiù yào bèi kāi chú。

If I don'tshow up for class this morning, I'll be kicked out.
5
她15岁时被学校开除了。

tā15 15 suì shí bèi xué xiào kāi chú。

She was expelled from school at
6
5,000多名中学生因为作弊被开除。

5,000 5,000 duō míng zhōng xué shēng yīn wéi zuò bì bèi kāi。

More than five-thousand secondary school students have been expelled for cheating.
7
天哪, 你已被开除了 吗 ?

tiān nǎ, , nǐ yǐ bèi kāi chú le?

Goodness, have you been expelled?
8
我被开除后，就拿了这些钥匙作为纪念。

wǒ bèi kāi chú hòu， ， jiù ná le zhè xiē yuè chí zuò wéi jì。

When I got canned, I took these keys as souvenirs.
9
那个懒孩子因偷窃邮票而遭提前开除.

nà gè lǎn hái zǐ yīn tōu qiè yóu piào ér zāo tí qián kāi chú.

The lazy boy anticipated his dismissal by stealing stamps.

Cultural Notes for 开除

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese educational culture, expulsion is often viewed as a significant and serious action, reflecting the importance placed on discipline and adherence to rules. It can also influence a student's future opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions about 开除

开除 refers specifically to expulsion from a school or organization, while 解雇 is used for firing an employee.