‘解开’ is a compound verb meaning ‘to untie’ or ‘to unlock’, formed by combining ‘解’ (jiě), which means ‘to loosen, separate, or dissolve’, and ‘开’ (kāi), meaning ‘to open’. Together, they describe the physical or metaphorical act of releasing something bound, locked, or closed — such as untying shoelaces, unlocking a door, or resolving a puzzle or problem. It emphasizes the completion of the action: the knot or lock is fully undone.

The verb is commonly used in both literal and figurative contexts — for example, unfastening clothing, opening sealed packages, or solving riddles and emotional barriers. It’s transitive and requires an object (e.g., ‘解开绳子’, ‘解开谜题’). While it can occasionally appear in passive or resultative constructions, it most frequently appears in active sentences with clear agents and objects, especially in everyday spoken and written Chinese.