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Grammar detail: 開ける vs 空ける vs 明ける (あける)

開ける vs 空ける vs 明ける (あける)  which あける to use when
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開ける, 空ける and 明ける share the same reading - あける, but they each have different definitions, and it is useful to understand how each is used.

ける

is used with things that are opened physically; such as a door, window, a package, or one's eyes or mouth. It is also used to mean unlock.
ドア
けて
ください
Please open the door.
カバン
けました

She opened her bag.
けて
ください
Open your eyes, please.
かれ
その
はこ
ける
ことできなかった
He was not able to open the box.

ける

Definitions for include: vacate, make free, make space and make a hole. These definitions can be connected to the kanji 空, which can be read as
から
, meaning 'empty'.
じゅうじ
10時
までに
へや
部屋
けてください

Please vacate the room by 10 o’clock.
みち
けて
ください
Make way, please.
こんしゅう
今週
どようび
土曜日
けて
おく
I’ll keep this Saturday free.
ここ
あな
けたい
です
I want to make a hole here.
ばしょ
場所
けてもらえます

Could you please make room for me?
開ける and 空ける are transitive verbs and generally follow the particle を. 明ける is an intransitive verb and it usually follows the particle が.

ける

is most often used to describe dawn breaking, or with phrases that signify the beginning of a new year.
もうすぐ
よる
ける

Day will break soon.
is the standard expression to greet people a happy new year. It can be written using all hiragana, or kanji can be used for
けまして.
あけましておめでとうございます useful
Happy New Year!
Every year Japan experiences a , and when it is over people will often comment on this using this next expression.
やっと
つゆ
梅雨
けました

The rainy season is finally over.
あける - What's the difference between 開ける, 空ける and 明ける? NEW!
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Kanji used in this grammar

カイ   あ to (be) open   あける    ひら to open (something)   ひらける to open out (eg view)   
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クウ   から empty   あ to be empty   あける to empty, vacate   そら sky   
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メイ   ミョウ   あかり light   あかるい bright   あかるむ to brighten   あからむ to become luminous (at dawn)   あきらか obvious   あかす to lay bare   あ to open   あける to empty   
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ボク   モク   eye   ま-    め    
ヒ   かれ he   
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はこ box   
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ジ   とき time, occasion   
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ブ   part
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オク   や roof   
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ドウ   トウ   みち road   
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コン   キン   いま now   
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シュウ    a week   
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ド   ト   ground; earth   つち ground, earth, soil   
ヨウ    day of the week   
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ニチ   ジツ   sun; day   ひ    -か    
ケツ   あな hole   
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ジョウ   ば place   
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ショ   ところ place   
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ヤ   よる    よ night   
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バイ   うめ plum tree   
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ウ   あめ    あま- rain   
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