开场 kāichǎng to begin
to begin; to open; to start; beginning of an event
How to remember 开场: 开 open + 场 measure word for games and performances = to begin.
Characters
How it is used
- The opening of a show/event; to begin - 演出九点开场 (yǎnchū jiǔ diǎn kāichǎng) the performance starts at nine.
- Tied to staged/scheduled events (plays, matches, meetings), unlike the all-purpose 开始.
- Its opposite is 散场 (sànchǎng, the show ends and the crowd disperses) - 电影散场了 (diànyǐng sànchǎng le) the film is over and people leave.