網開三面

to leave the net open on three sides (idiom); let the caged bird fly / to give one's opponent a way out / lenient treatment

three / 3

face / side / surface / aspect / top / classifier for objects with flat surfaces such as drums, mirrors, flags etc

variant of 麵|面[mian4]

flour / noodles / (of food) soft (not crunchy) / (slang) (of a person) ineffectual / spineless

net / network

to open / to start / to turn on / to boil / to write out (a prescription, check, invoice etc) / to operate (a vehicle) / carat (gold) / abbr. for Kelvin, 開爾文|开尔文[Kai1 er3 wen2] / abbr. for 開本|开本[kai1 ben3], book format