始める To Begin Something

Meaning

Primary

To Begin Something

Alternatives

To Start Something, To Begin, To Start

Word Type

transitive verb, ichidan verb

Explanation

This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means begin or start, and the verb version is to begin, to begin something, to start, or to start something.

This is a transitive verb. That means it takes a direct object. You start something. Like studying! You should have started studying earlier though, huh?

Reading

はじめる

Explanation

Since this word has okurigana (hiragana attached to the kanji) you know that it's probably going to be the kun'yomi reading, which you didn't learn with the kanji. Here's a mnemonic to help you:

Right now it's time to begin Haj (はじ). (Haj is the fifth pillar of Islam, and is a pilgrimage to Mecca during the month of Dhu al-Hijja). You need to start Haj right now!

Context

Common Word Combinations

• 〜から始める

  すきなところから始める

  to start from where one likes

  ２０００年から始める

  to start from the year 2000

  できることから始める

  to start with what one can do

• 〜を始める

  作業を始める

  to start work

  生活を始める

  to start a life

  話を始める

  to begin speaking

Context Sentences

去年、東北での新しい生活を始めました。

Last year, I started a new life in Tohoku.

私は、まだワニカニを始めたばかりです。

I've just started WaniKani.

スペイン語を学びたいけど、何から始めるのがいいのか、分かりません。

I want to learn Spanish, but I don't know where to start.

Kanji Composition

1. 始

   し Begin