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始め (はじめ, hajime) Japanese meaning: beginning | Kotomora
じ 字
Meanings Jump to a sense… 1. beginning; start; outset; opening 2. first (in line, order, etc.) 3. origin; beginning 4. such as ...; not to mention ... Report an issue with this page
会かい 議ぎ の 始はじ め に 自じ 己こ 紹しょう 介かい を し ましょう 。
Let's introduce ourselves at the beginning of the meeting.
It was difficult at first, but I gradually got used to it.
Usage patterns 〈 時とき 〉 の 始はじ め the beginning of (a time period)
I pay the rent at the beginning of the month.
〈 物もの 〉 を 始はじ め starting with ~ (and including others)
He can speak French and German, not to mention English.
始はじ めから 終お わりまで from beginning to end
Please listen to the story from beginning to end.
〈 事こと 〉 の 始はじ め the origin or root of (something)
This was the origin of the conflict between the two countries.
Expressions· 8 初はじ めは at first; in the beginning; originally 隗かい より 始はじ めよ start with the first step; begin with what is at hand · the one who proposes it should do it first まず 隗かい より 始はじ めよ start with the first step; begin with what is at hand · the one who proposes should act first; lead by example Show 3 more 会あ うは 別わか れの 始はじ め we meet only to part; meeting is the first step to parting Related words· 9 最初 is the everyday word for 'first' or 'at first' in a sequence, while 始め appears mainly in fixed phrases or formal/adverbial expressions.
冒頭 refers specifically to the opening part of a speech, text, or story, whereas 始め is a general word for any beginning.
発端 emphasizes the triggering cause or root of an event, while 始め simply marks the point in time where something starts.
序盤 refers to the early stage of a game, match, or narrative, while 始め is a broader, more general word for any beginning.
Show 5 more 頭 specifically marks the very beginning of a set period like a month, while 始め is the general word for the start of anything.
初め is a broad, everyday word for the beginning of something, whereas 手始め implies a chosen first action meant to kick off a longer process.
始め is a general, everyday word for 'beginning' usable in casual speech, whereas 当初 stresses the starting point of a specific plan or period and sounds more formal.
Opposites· 5 終わり means 'end' or 'finish', the direct opposite of 始め, which means 'beginning'.
初め means the beginning of something, the direct opposite of 末 as the end of a period.
始め marks the first instance of a recurring activity (e.g. 仕事始め), the direct opposite of 納め, which marks the last (e.g. 仕事納め).
Show 2 more Word family· 15 start; begin; commence · start up; open; establish · start to ...; begin to ...
outset; start; beginning
start; begin; commence
beginning of things; starting something new · preparations for New Year's festivities (Dec 8 in Tokyo, Dec 13 in Kyoto) · resuming work after the New Year's vacation
Written forms 始はじ め Usage 10%
General kanji for 'beginning', 'start', and the pattern 〜を始め. High priority in news and common usage.
はじめ Usage 60%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially for the pattern 〜をはじめ.
初はじ め Usage 31%
Preferred for 'first (in order)' or 'initial' nuance, as in 初めの一歩.
Etymology The noun form of the verb 始める (はじめる, 'to begin'). The kanji 始 is used for temporal or process beginnings, while 初 is used for first occurrences or initial states.
初め is the ordinary word for 'beginning,' while 端 (はな) only conveys 'start' in fixed expressions like 端から.
始め appears in fixed phrases like 始めに (firstly) and marks a stage in a sequence, while 始まり emphasizes the abstract concept of an origin or starting point.
始め means 'beginning', the direct opposite of 終 meaning 'end' or 'final stage'.
始め means the beginning of something, the opposite of 末, the end, as in 年の始め (start of the year) versus 年末 (year-end).
first appearance of the season
Show 9 more first soft-rice meal of the New Year · first sexual intercourse of the New Year · loss of virginity
seeing for the first time; first sight
begin doing; start doing
resuming work after the New Year's vacation; first work of the year
imperial archery ceremony (Heian/Kamakura) · first bow shooting of the year (military families)
first business day of the new year; reopening of offices after New Year's holiday
at first; to begin with; as a first step
starting to walk
start doing; begin to do; get going on
