起点|きてんkiten[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounstarting point; origin

• Synonym原点げんてんNeutralRefers to the starting point and foundation of things, as in 「原点に戻る」, and also the origin of coordinate axes; 「起点」 mainly marks where a route or process begins.
• Synonym糸口いとぐちNeutralA clue or lead toward solving a problem, as in 「解決の糸口」; 「起点」 has no sense of a clue.
• SynonymはじめNeutralThe most common everyday word for a beginning or opening, mostly the earliest point in time; 「起点」 leans toward a spatial or procedural starting point.
• Synonym発祥はっしょうWrittenWhere a culture or movement first arose, as in 「〜発祥の地」; 「起点」 only states the position where something starts.
• Synonym発端ほったんWrittenThe start or cause of an incident or dispute, as in 「事件の発端」; 「起点」 applies to routes and abstract processes, not just incidents.
• Synonym起源きげんNeutralThe historical source from which something first arose, as in 「生命の起源」; 「起点」 leans toward geography or the start of a process.
• Synonym始まりはじまりNeutralA common everyday word for a beginning or origin, leaning toward time and events; 「起点」 instead points to a place or reference point.
• SynonymオリジンNeutralA loanword meaning origin or source, rare in everyday use; for where a route begins, say 「起点」.
• Synonym出発点しゅっぱつてんNeutralThe place one departs from or one's standpoint for doing something; more colloquial than 「起点」, which is the formal term for routes and railways.
• Synonym始点してんWrittenThe starting point of a segment or interval, used in math, computer text selection, and bus routes; 「起点」 covers roads, railways, and abstract matters.
• RelatedルーツNeutralA loanword for one's roots or ancestral origins, as in 「日本人のルーツ」; 「起点」 is the physical or procedural point where something starts.
• Related根源こんげんWrittenThe root source or cause of things, as in 「諸悪の根源」; 「起点」 only says where something starts and does not probe causes.
• Related幕開けまくあけNeutralFiguratively the dawn of a new era or activity, as in 「新時代の幕開け」; 「起点」 leans toward a place or reference point.
• Related源流げんりゅうWrittenThe headwaters of a river, figuratively the source of a culture or school of thought; 「起点」 has no sense of where something springs from and spreads.
• Related芽生えめばえNeutralA bud or sprout, figuratively the budding of feelings or awareness; it marks something beginning to sprout, not the start of a route.
• Related幕開きまくあきNeutralThe raising of a curtain in the theater, figuratively the start of an era or activity; synonymous with 「幕開け」 but less common.
• Related出だしでだしCasualColloquial, for the opening part of an undertaking or song, as in 「出だしが好調」; 「起点」 is the place where something starts.
• Related元始げんしWrittenA written, archaic word for the very beginning of all things; not used in daily life—say 「起源」 when speaking of origins.
• Related初手しょてNeutralThe first move in go or shogi, figuratively one's opening step; 「起点」 is the place where something begins.
• Related淵源えんげんWrittenWritten style for the deep source or origin of something; in everyday speech use 「起源」 or 「根源」.
• Related序開きじょびらきWrittenRare, meaning the beginning of something; in daily use prefer 「始まり」 or 「発端」.
• Related出始めではじめNeutralThe first appearance of seasonal goods on the market, as in 「出始めのイチゴ」; unrelated to 「起点」 as a place.
• Related初口しょくちNeutralRare, for the earliest stage of an activity; in daily use say 「始め」 or 「出だし」.
• Related濫觴らんしょうWrittenAn elegant, literary word for the origin of something, seen mostly in academic writing; daily speech uses 「起源」 or 「始まり」.
• Antonym終点しゅうてんNeutralThe direct opposite of 「起点」: where a route or process ends, especially the last stop of a train or bus.
• Antonym終着しゅうちゃくNeutralArriving at the final stop, mostly as 「終着駅」; opposite to 「起点」 on a line, and leans toward the act of arriving.

Use 「起点」 for the point where a route or process begins. To speak of returning to one's original principles, use 「原点」 (「原点に戻る」). For beginnings in time, choose 「始まり」 or 「始め」; for the cause of an incident, 「発端」; for historical origins, 「起源」. 「出発点」 fits departures, 「糸口」 a clue, 「根源」 a root cause, and 「終点」 the opposite end.

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

1. 物事ものごとの始はじまる所ところ。