開あく

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

be empty; be vacant; be available; be free

Only when written 空く

Used with physical spaces such as seats and rooms, and also with a person's time or schedule. 空く is the usual kanji for this sense.

• 席せきが空あいたら教おしえてください。

  Please let me know when a seat becomes available.

• 明日あしたの午ご後ご、空あいていますか。

  Are you free tomorrow afternoon?

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

be open; be low-cut; leave an opening

Only when written 明く

Used for openings in clothing or around the body, such as a neckline, collar, or chest area being open or cut low. Associated with this with 明く, but kana spelling is also a safe modern choice.

• このシャツは首くび元もとがあきすぎている。

  This shirt is too open around the neck.

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

be open; come open

Only when written 明く

Intransitive use for the eyes, mouth, and similar body parts being open or having opened. In ordinary modern Japanese, kana or 開く may be seen, while lists 明く.

• 驚おどろいて口くちがあいたままになった。

  I was so surprised that my mouth stayed open.

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

open one's eyes or mouth

Only when written 明く

Transitive use with body parts such as eyes or mouth. This is limited and old-fashioned in modern Japanese; 開ける is the normal everyday verb for actively opening one's eyes or mouth.

• 古ふるい文ぶん章しょうの「口くちを明あく」は、現げん代だい語ごの「口くちを開あける」に近ちかい。

  In old writing, 口を明く is close to the modern expression 口を開ける, meaning to open one's mouth.

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

come to an end; be over

Only when written 明く

Limited use for a period or state ending. It is especially associated with 明く and is often safest to learn through fixed expressions rather than as a freely productive modern verb.

• 「喪もが明あく」は、喪もの期き間かんが終おわることを表あらわす言いい方かただ。

  喪が明く is an expression meaning that the period of mourning comes to an end.

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

have a hole; form a gap; have an interval

Only when written 開く / 空く

Used when a hole appears, a gap opens up, or time is left between events. 開く is common for holes; 空く is common for empty space or time intervals.

See also: 穴が開く

• 靴くつ下したに穴あなが開あいた。

  A hole opened in my sock.

• 次つぎの予よ定ていまで一いち時じ間かん空あく。

  There is a one-hour gap before the next appointment.