Chinese

edit
open; operate (vehicle); start
skylight; hatchway; cupola; crack at the top of a cave or cliff that lets in light
 
trad. (開天窗) 天窗
simp. (开天窗) 天窗

Etymology

edit

Combination of "開" (to open) and "天窗" (skylight [roof window]) to figuratively mean "to create a hole/gap/blank spot in something". The figurative use is more common than its literal meaning.

Pronunciation

edit

Verb

edit

開⫽天窗 (verb-object)

  1. (literal) to open the skylight
  2. (of finance) to embezzle money and tamper with the financial account
    會計公司賬目開天窗 [MSC, trad.]
    会计公司账目开天窗 [MSC, simp.]
    kuàijì gěi gōngsī zhàngmù kāitiānchuāng [Pinyin]
    The accountant embezzles the company fund.
  3. (slang) to put something on hiatus; to postpone
    漫畫家連載漫畫開天窗 [MSC, trad.]
    漫画家连载漫画开天窗 [MSC, simp.]
    mànhuàjiā gěi liánzǎi zhōng de mànhuà kāitiānchuāng [Pinyin]
    The comic artist puts his series on hiatus.
  4. (of newspapers) to intentionally leave a section blank to protest against censorship
edit