'Kāi huì' literally combines 'kāi' (to open, to start) and 'huì' (meeting, assembly), meaning 'to hold a meeting' or 'to conduct a meeting.' It emphasizes the act of convening people for discussion, decision-making, or information sharing — not just attending. The verb is commonly used in workplaces, schools, and community settings, and often appears with time or location modifiers (e.g., 'zài xià wǔ kāi huì' — 'hold a meeting this afternoon').

Unlike nouns like 'yī cì huìyì' (a meeting), 'kāi huì' functions exclusively as a verb and typically requires a subject (e.g., 'wǒmen', 'tāmen', or an organization). It's neutral in register — appropriate in both formal reports and casual workplace chats — but rarely used in highly informal speech among friends (where 'liáo tiān' or 'jiāo liú' would be more natural). It does not imply duration or outcome; it simply marks the initiation and conduct of the meeting event.