How to say "start" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 始めるはじめるichidan verb, transitive verbThe basic verb for starting something yourself: you start work, a conversation, a project. Use it when a person takes the action of beginning something.
- noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbThe loanword for a start or beginning, heard especially for races and projects; it names the starting point or moment itself — the start of a race, the start of a new plan.
- 始まるはじまるgodan verb, intransitive verbThe intransitive counterpart of 始める: use it when something begins — a meeting starts at ten, a film starts, a new term begins. The event itself, not a person, is what starts.
- 開始かいしnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbA noun meaning start or commencement, more formal than スタート; typical of announcements, schedules, and written notices, such as the start of a meeting or of a service.
- 仕掛けるしかけるichidan verb, transitive verbA verb for starting something by setting it in motion yourself; it suggests deliberate initiation rather than a plain beginning, so for simply starting something, 始める is the usual choice.
Choose 「始める」 when someone starts something and 「始まる」 when something starts; 「スタート」 and 開始 are nouns for a start or beginning, 開始 the more formal; 「仕掛ける」 sets something in motion on one's own initiative.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 始めるはじめるto start
- スタートstart
- 始まるはじまるto begin
- 開始かいしstart
- 仕掛けるしかけるto start
- 立ち上げるたちあげるto start (something)
- はじめbeginning
- きっかけchance
- 当初とうしょbeginning
- 冒頭ぼうとうbeginning
- 始まりはじまりorigin
- オープニングopening
- 立ち上がりたちあがりstart
- 立ちたちdeparture
- 取り掛かるとりかかるto begin (doing)
- 糸口いとぐちbeginning
- 皮切りかわきりbeginning
- 端緒たんしょstart
- 手始めてはじめoutset
- 口切りくちきりstart broaching (a subject)
- 出かけるでかけるto go out (e.g. on an excursion or outing)
- 発端ほったんorigin
- 駆り立てるかりたてるto flush out (a hare, fox, etc.)
- 出だしでだしstart
- しょっぱな(very) beginning
- 滑り出しすべりだしstart
- 初発しょはつstart
- 始原しげんstart
- おっぱじめるto start
- 起始きしstart
- 発走はっそうstart (of a race)
- 発馬はつばstart (of a horse race)
- 進発しんぱつstart
- 出で立ついでたつto start
- 火蓋を切るひぶたをきるto start (an argument, a battle, etc.)
- 幕を切るまくをきるto start (e.g. a scene, a war, etc.)
- 幕を切って落とすまくをきっておとすto start (e.g. a scene, a war, etc.)
- 起首きしゅstart
- やり始めるやりはじめるto start
- 開けひらけbeginning
- 本初ほんしょbeginning
- し始めるしはじめるto begin (doing)
- 戦略兵器削減条約せんりゃくへいきさくげんじょうやくStrategic Arms Reduction Treaty
- 熾すおこすto build (a fire)
- きかっけchance
- 幕が開くまくがあくthe curtain opens (for the start of a play, act, etc.)
- 途に就くとにつくto set out (on a journey)
- 行動に移るこうどうにうつるto take action
- やりだしbeginning
- 発つたつto depart (on a journey, trip, etc.)
- 劈頭へきとうbeginning
- ギクッと(with a) start
- でstart
- 立てるたてるto make (a noise)
- そもそもbeginning
- 端はしbeginning
- 立ち上がるたちあがるto (stand up and) take action
- 踏み出すふみだすto start
- 開幕かいまくopening (of an event)
- 発進はっしんstarting (to move; of a car)
- 出足であしstart (of a race, campaign, business, etc.)
- 就くつくto start (on a journey)
- 幕開けまくあけbeginning (e.g. of an era)
- 序章じょしょうbeginning
- 巻頭かんとうbeginning (of a matter)
- 滑り出すすべりだすto make a start
- 初手しょてbeginning
- 乗りかかるのりかかるto start (doing)
- 嚆矢こうしstart (e.g. of a movement)
- 蓋を開けるふたをあけるto start (something)
- のっかかるto start (doing)
- 水端みずはなstart
- 序じょbeginning
- ぶっつけbeginning
- 出鼻でばなoutset
- 幕開きまくあきbeginning (e.g. of an era)
- とば口とばくちbeginning
- 出っ鼻でっぱなoutset
- 切るきるto start
- かかるto start (engines, motors)
- 一いちbeginning
- 出るでるto break out
- 出すだすto produce (a sound)
- 頭あたまbeginning
- 起こすおこすto start
- 入りいりbeginning (of the equinoctial week, midsummer, etc.)
- 天てんbeginning
- 走りはしりbeginning
- こしらえるto have (a child, partner, lover, etc.)
- 入るはいるto enter (a month, season, etc.)
- ひらくto found (nation, dynasty, sect, etc.)
- 立つたつto depart (on a journey, trip, etc.)
- こさえるto have (a child, partner, lover, etc.)
See also
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