132
始
Begin, Start
はじ(める) (hajimeru), はじ(まる) (hajimaru)
JLPT N4
Interesting Fact
始 is an ancient Chinese character. It combines 女 (woman) with 台, which was originally chosen mainly for its sound rather than its meaning. Ancient scholars also associated the character with the beginning of life through childbirth, so over time 始 came to represent the idea of beginning or starting anything.
Memory Trick
“Life begins in Womans(女) Womb.”
Readings
Onyomi: シ (shi)
Kunyomi: はじ(める) (hajimeru), はじ(まる) (hajimaru)
Example Words
始める
はじめる (hajimeru)
To begin
始まる
はじまる (hajimaru)
To begin (intransitive)
開始
かいし (kaishi)
Start
原始
げんし (genshi)
Primitive
Example Sentence
授業は 九時に 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
The class starts at nine o'clock.