始めるBegin doing
始める attaches to a verb stem to say that an action, activity, or change begins. It neutrally marks the beginning and does not by itself suggest that the onset was sudden.
How it works
The first verb names what begins. Use its ます-stem and attach 始める directly: 読みます becomes 読み始める, and 食べます becomes 食べ始める.
Actions and natural changes
The pattern works with intentional activities and with processes or changes that have an imaginable starting point.
Change the end of the compound
Once the two verbs are joined, treat them as one compound verb. For example, the past form of 話し始める is 話し始めた, and its negative form is 話し始めない. Do not change the first verb after forming the compound.
A negative form
彼は何か言おうとしたが、結局話し始めなかった。
He tried to say something, but in the end he did not begin speaking.
AnalyzeNeutral beginning versus abrupt onset
始める simply states that something begins. By contrast, 出す after a verb stem highlights a sudden, abrupt, or sometimes uncontrolled onset.
静かだった子どもが急に泣き出した。
The child, who had been quiet, suddenly burst into tears.
AnalyzeThe word meaning “suddenly” and the abrupt compound reinforce each other here.
More examples
来月から日本語を勉強し始めます。
I will start studying Japanese next month.
Analyze雨は夕方になって降り始めた。
It began to rain in the evening.
Analyze最近、毎朝公園を走り始めました。
Recently, I started running in the park every morning.
Analyze雪は昼前から解け始めた。
The snow began to melt before noon.
Analyze六時を過ぎると、店が混み始めます。
After six, the store starts getting crowded.
Analyze観客が一人ずつ席を立ち始めた。
The audience members began leaving their seats one by one.
Analyze