noun, takes する, transitive verb, intransitive verb

  1. curtain raising, starting (e.g. play, concert).

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
開演 かいえん

Contained Kanji Breakdown

open, unfold, unseal
カイ ひら.く あ.く (3rd, N4)
gate, counter for cannons
モン かど と (2nd, N2)
open, initiate, begin
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ いっ ひと- (1st, N5)
twenty, twenty or letter H radical (no. 55)
キョウ ク にじゅう (Kentei 1)
performance, act, play
エン (5th, N3)
water, water radical (no. 85)
さんずい
sign of the tiger, 3-5AM, third sign of Chinese zodiac
とら イン とも (Kentei Pre-1, N1)
shaped crown, katakana u radical (no. 40)
ベン メン (Kentei 1)
dot, tick or dot radical (no. 3)
チュ (Kentei 1)
wa-shaped crown radical (no. 14)
ベキ (Kentei 1)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ いっ ひと- (1st, N5)
wherefore, a reason
ユウ ユ ユイ (3rd, N3)
rice field, rice paddy
た デン たん (1st, N4)
number one, line, rod radical (no. 2)
コン シ ジョ
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ や はっ (1st, N5)