How to say "begin" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 始まるはじまるgodan verb, intransitive verbThe intransitive verb for things beginning on their own: meetings, films, classes and events start. Use it to say that something begins, not that someone begins it; it pairs with transitive 始める.
- 始めるはじめるichidan verb, transitive verbThe transitive counterpart: you begin or start something — a job, a business, a project, studying. Use it when an agent sets something going; it pairs with intransitive 始まる.
- 仕掛けるしかけるichidan verb, transitive verbSeldom the word you want for plain 'begin': it really means to set something in motion deliberately — laying a trap or device, or making the first move, as in starting a fight or attack.
- 取り掛かるとりかかるgodan verb, intransitive verbFor beginning to work on something: you set about or get down to a task, job or piece of work. It marks the start of doing, not of an event.
Use 「始まる」 when something begins on its own and 「始める」 when you start it; 「取り掛かる」 is for getting down to a task, while 「仕掛ける」 is rarely the word for plain 'begin' — it means setting something in motion deliberately.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 始まるはじまるto begin
- 始めるはじめるto start
- 仕掛けるしかけるto start
- 取り掛かるとりかかるto begin (doing)
- し始めるしはじめるto begin (doing)
- やりだすto begin
- 打ち始めるうちはじめるto begin (emphatically)
- 書き起こすかきおこすto start writing
- おっぱじめるto start
- 手を染めるてをそめるto get involved (with)
- 火蓋が切られるひぶたがきられるto be started
- 取り付くとりつくto set about doing
- 歩き出すあるきだすto begin (something new)
- 乗りかかるのりかかるto start (doing)
- 幕が開くまくがあくto start (of an event, campaign, etc.)
- 取っ付くとっつくto set about doing
- のっかかるto start (doing)
- かかるto begin (a task)
- 開けるあけるto begin (of the New Year)
- なるto come (to do)
- 立つたつto start (of a season)
- 起こすおこすto start
- 入るはいるto enter (a month, season, etc.)
See also
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