幕開け|まくあけmakuake[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounrise of the curtain; opening of a play
2. nounbeginning (e.g. of an era); start; opening (of a tournament, festival, etc.)

• Synonym開幕かいまくNeutralRefers to the official opening of a performance, season or tournament; 「幕開け」 also covers the stage curtain but is often figurative, for the dawn of a new era.
• Synonym最初さいしょNeutralThe earliest or first point, centered on order in time; 「幕開け」 instead marks the start of a new situation.
• Synonym冒頭ぼうとうNeutralThe opening portion of a text, speech or meeting; 「幕開け」 is used mainly for eras and events.
• RelatedはじめNeutralThe most basic word for a start or beginning; 「幕開け」 is mostly for the opening of an era or a major event.
• Related始まりはじまりNeutralThe start or origin of something, e.g. 「物語の始まり」; 「幕開け」 carries more drama and solemnity.
• RelatedスタートNeutralA loanword for a start or a race's beginning; very common in speech and covers a wide range of uses.
• Related開始かいしNeutralThe formal start of an activity, e.g. 「試合開始」; businesslike and matter-of-fact, with no figurative coloring.
• Related出だしでだしCasualColloquial; describes how things stand at the very start, e.g. 「出だしが好調」— it centers on how the opening goes, not on a dramatic beginning.
• Related滑り出しすべりだしNeutralThe opening stage of something and how it goes, as in 「順調な滑り出し」; the word usually carries a judgement on whether the start went smoothly.
• Related序開きじょびらきWrittenThe beginning or origin of something; an old word of formal prose, rarely used in modern Japanese.
• Antonym幕切れまくぎれNeutralAntonym: the curtain falling on an act, or how a matter ends, e.g. 「あっけない幕切れ」; the direct opposite of 「幕開け」.
• Antonym終幕しゅうまくWrittenAntonym: the final act of a play, by extension the end of something; a word of written/formal prose.
• Antonym閉幕へいまくNeutralAntonym: the closing of a performance or tournament, standing opposite 「幕開け」's opening.

Use 「幕開け」 for a curtain rising or the dramatic start of a new era or major event. For a performance or tournament opening, 「開幕」 is the usual word; for the start of things in general, 「始まり」 or 「出だし」; for the ending, 「幕切れ」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 演劇えんげきなどで舞台ぶたいの幕まくが開ひらくこと。
2. 物事ものごとの始はじまり。