What does 始 mean in Japanese?
始 means to begin or start. The two kun’yomi — 始まる (hajimaru, intransitive: something begins) and 始める (hajimeru, transitive: to start something) — are among the clearest and most useful examples of the intransitive/transitive verb pair pattern at N4.
始 also functions as a highly productive auxiliary verb suffix. 〜始める (〜hajimeru, to begin doing ___) attaches to the stem of almost any verb: 食べ始める (start eating), 走り始める (start running), 降り始める (start falling, of rain). Mastering this pattern unlocks a whole new layer of verb expression.
Reading
On’yomi: シ (shi)
Kun’yomi: はじ-まる (haji-maru), はじ-める (haji-meru)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 始 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | begin, start |
| Stroke Count | 8 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
How to Understand This Kanji
始まる (intransitive): something begins on its own or as observed — 授業が始まる (class begins), 映画が始まった (the film started). 始める (transitive): someone initiates an action — 勉強を始める (start studying), 仕事を始める (start work). 開始 (kaishi) is the formal written equivalent of starting, used in official announcements: 販売開始 (sales start), 開始時間 (start time).
Common Words
- 始まる（はじまる / hajimaru） — to begin, to start (intransitive)
- 始める（はじめる / hajimeru） — to start something, to begin (transitive)
- 開始（かいし / kaishi） — commencement, start (formal)
- 始発（しはつ / shihatsu） — first train of the day
- 始業（しぎょう / shigyou） — start of work or school
- 〜始める（〜はじめる / ~hajimeru） — to begin doing ~ (auxiliary verb)
Example Sentences
-
授業は9時に始まります。
じゅぎょうはくじにはじまります。 / Jugyou wa kuji ni hajimarimasu.
Class begins at 9 o’clock.
-
日本語の勉強を始めたのは去年です。
にほんごのべんきょうをはじめたのはきょねんです。 / Nihongo no benkyou o hajimeta no wa kyonen desu.
It was last year that I started studying Japanese.
-
雨が降り始めました。
あめがふりはじめました。 / Ame ga furihajimemashita.
It has started raining.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
The 始まる / 始める pair follows the same -まる/-める intransitive/transitive pattern as 止まる/止める (covered in seed_id 190). 始まる = the thing begins; 始める = you begin the thing. 会議が始まる (the meeting begins) vs 会議を始める (start the meeting — you initiate it).
〜始める as an auxiliary is extremely productive. Attach it to a verb stem: 食べ始める (start eating), 泣き始める (start crying), 雨が降り始めた (it started raining). This pattern is one of the most useful compound verb forms at N4 and appears constantly in both spoken and written Japanese.
始発 (shihatsu, first train) = 始 (begin) + 発 (depart). 始発電車 is the first train of the day on a line. Its partner is 終電 (shuuden, last train), which you will see in seed_id 193. These two words are practically essential for navigating Japanese trains.
Summary
始 means to begin or start, with 始まる (intransitive) and 始める (transitive) as the core verb pair, and 〜始める as a productive auxiliary for expressing the start of any action.