〜始める (はじめる) — Intentional Beginnings
A compound-verb suffix expressing the start of an action. Unlike 出す, this is usually a calm, neutral, or intentional beginning.
Structure
[Verb masu-stem] + 始める
Examples
最近ピアノを弾き始めました。
Saikin piano o hikihajimemashita.
I recently started playing the piano.
弾き (play) + 始めました (started)
会議を始めましょう。
Kaigi o hajimemashō.
Let's start the meeting.
Controlled, intentional start
四月から新しい会社で働き始めます。
Shigatsu kara atarashii kaisha de hatarakihajimemasu.
I'll start working at a new company in April.
働き (work) + 始めます (will start) — a planned, intentional beginning
• 始める vs 出す: 始める = calm or intentional start (begins eating, starts the meeting). 出す = sudden/unexpected start (burst into tears, started to pour rain). • The Aspect Trio: 〜始める (start), 〜続ける (continue), 〜終わる (finish). They all bolt directly onto the masu-stem of verbs.
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones 〜始める is tested against.
vs 〜出す (abruptly begin)
〜始める is a deliberate/neutral onset you can plan or announce (会議を始める). 〜出す is sudden and uncontrolled (泣き出す) and cannot be used for planned actions.
vs 始める (as a standalone verb)
As an independent verb, 始める takes a direct object with を (勉強を始める = begin studying). As a suffix it attaches to another verb's stem (勉強し始める) to mark the start of that action itself.
More verb forms
- てくる — Come Doing / Has Been Doing (Toward Now)
- てみる — Try Doing (and See)
- Potential Form — Can / Be Able To (Verbs)
- がる／がっている — Describing Others' Feelings
- 〜出す (だす) — Abrupt Eruptions
- 意向形 (いこうけい) — Volitional Form (Let's / I'll)
- くする / にする — Make something become (a quality)
- ながら — While doing (simultaneous actions, same subject)
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