시작하다
sijakhada[ˈɕʰi(ː)d͡ʑa̠kʰa̠da̠]
To start in Korean is 시작하다 (sijakhada).
시작하다 is used for both starting an abstract activity (like a project) and a physical action (like a race).
What does it mean word for word?
The verb 시작하다 is composed of the noun 시작 (beginning/start) and the verb 하다 (to do).
Which one should you use?
While 시작하다 means 'to start/begin', it is distinct from 출발하다, which specifically means 'to depart' or 'to set off' on a journey.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense of 시작하다 is 시작했다. The polite, informal form of 시작하다 is 시작해요. The formal, polite form of 시작하다 is 시작합니다, which is created by adding the honorific suffix -습니다 to 시작하다.
How do you pronounce it?
sijakhada
Did you know?
- When starting a meal, Koreans don't usually use 시작하다. Instead, they use phrases related to eating, such as 잘 먹겠습니다, to signal the beginning of the activity.
- The word 시작 is a homonym that can mean 'to compose poetry' when written with the Chinese characters 詩作. In spoken Korean, these two meanings sound identical.
- In a formal presentation, a speaker often uses 시작하겠습니다 instead of the standard 시작해요. This specific form signals a firm intention to the audience that the event is about to begin.
Examples in context
- 저희 회의를 시작하겠습니다.We will begin the meeting.
- 지금부터 공연을 시작합니다.We will start the performance from now on.
- 식사를 시작하시겠어요?Shall we start the meal?
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 시작하다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
