How to Say "Begin" in Japanese

始める

hajimeru[ha̠ʑime̞ɾɯ̟]

The Japanese verb for 'to begin' is 始める (hajimeru).

始める is a transitive verb, meaning you use it when you are starting something (e.g., 'to start a meeting').

Meaning: to start, begin (intransitive) (verb)

Which one should you use?

While 始める is used when you start something, you should use the intransitive form 始まる to say that something starts (e.g., 'the movie begins').

You can attach 始める to the stem of another verb to mean 'to start doing' that action.

hajimeru

The phrase 始めて (hajimete) means 'for the first time', which allows Japanese speakers to describe an experience without using a word for 'once'.
While 始める means to start a task, the word 始まる is used for events like the New Year, suggesting that time itself is something that 'happens' rather than something humans start.
The verb 始める is a descendant of the Old Japanese 'lower bigrade' conjugation, a complex grammatical system that has since been simplified in the modern language.

彼は私たちに始めるように合図した。
He gave us the signal to begin.
This sentence is useful for seeing how to use 始める to indicate a signal to begin.
Tatoeba #106325 by tommy__san, translation #297361 by CK
新たに始める。
I will begin anew.
This sentence shows how to use 始める to express beginning something anew.
Tatoeba #945909 by oxioxigen, translation #8092954 by kedymera
木の葉は十月に落ち始める。
Leaves begin to fall in October.
This sentence demonstrates the grammar of attaching 始める to a verb to mean 'start doing' an action, such as falling.
Tatoeba #80103 by mookeee, translation #323614 by CK
会議をはじめます。
I will begin the meeting.
今から始めましょう。
Let's start now.
映画の時間が迫っているから、始めようよ！
The movie time is approaching, let's start!
1 more sentence on Tatoeba

Kenta and Himari are preparing to study together.

陽葵 Himari

そろそろ勉強を始めましょう。
Sorosoro benkyou o hajimemashou.
Let's start studying soon.
健太 Kenta

そうだね。準備はいいよ。
Sou da ne. Junbi wa ii yo.
You're right. I'm ready.
陽葵 Himari

じゃあ、ここから始めるね。
Jaa, koko kara hajimeru ne.
Then, I'll begin from here.
健太 Kenta

わかった。よろしくお願いします。
Wakatta. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Got it. Let's get to it.

Sources

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