開く
あく · aku · JLPT N5 · verb-godan
to open
🚪 aku sounds like ah, cool — the door opens and cool air comes in
開 is a gate (門) with hands lifting the bar inside it: unbarring the gate. 開く read あく is intransitive — the thing opens by itself (ドアが開く, the door opens). Compare 開ける (akeru), where someone opens it.
ひらく · hiraku · JLPT N4 · verb-godan
to open
🚪 開 = gate 門 + hands lifting the bar: hiraku, to open up
開 is a gate (門) with two hands removing the crossbar inside, so the gate swings open. The same verb stretches to events: you open a meeting or a shop, so 開く also means to hold or host one. Sound hook: he-rock-u the door open.