ichidan verb, transitive verb
Only when written 始める
General transitive verb for starting an activity, event, or process. Often used with nouns like 仕事, 会議, 勉強, etc.
来月から新しい仕事を始めます。
I will start a new job next month.
会
Let's begin the meeting.
ichidan verb, transitive verb
Used for founding or launching an organization, business, store, or society. 創める is a rare alternative kanji for this sense.
彼は駅前に小さなカフェを始めた。
He opened a small café in front of the station.
新しい会社を始めるには資金が必要だ。
You need funds to start a new company.
auxiliary verb, ichidan verb
start to ...; begin to ...
Only when written 始める
Auxiliary verb attached to the -masu stem of another verb, indicating the beginning of that action. Very common and productive.
雨が降り始めた。
It started to rain.
日本語を勉強し始めてから一年になる。
It's been a year since I started studying Japanese.