緒しょにつく

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-ku)

get underway; be started; begin

Used for projects, plans, or undertakings that are just beginning or have been set in motion. Often implies the initial stage of something significant.

新あたらしいプロジェクトがようやく緒しょについた。
The new project has finally gotten underway.
改かい革かくはまだ緒しょについたばかりだ。
The reforms have only just begun.

Written forms

緒につく
- しょにつく
  Standard kanji form; 緒に就く is a variant using the older kanji 就.
- ちょにつく
緒に就く
- しょにつく
  Variant with 就く; less common but still encountered.
- ちょにつく
ちょにつく

Kanji

緒thong, beginning, inception
就concerning, settle, take position

Similar words

始はじまる
始まる is a general verb for 'begin'; 緒につく is a more formal, figurative expression emphasizing the initial stage of an undertaking.
着ちゃく手しゅする
着手する means 'to start work on' and focuses on the action of beginning; 緒につく describes the state of being underway.

Etymology

From 緒 (しょ, 'beginning' or 'thread') and つく ('to be attached' or 'to start'). The phrase figuratively means 'to be attached to the beginning', i.e., to get started.