言い始める · ichidan verb
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 言い始める | 言い始めない |
| Polite | 言い始めます | 言い始めません |
| Past polite | 言い始めました | 言い始めませんでした |
| Past | 言い始めた | 言い始めなかった |
| Te-form | 言い始めて | 言い始めないで |
| Desire | 言い始めたい | 言い始めたくない |
| Potential | 言い始められるalso 言い始めれる | 言い始められないalso 言い始めれない |
| Passive | 言い始められる | 言い始められない |
| Causative | 言い始めさせる | 言い始めさせない |
| Causative passive | 言い始めさせられる | 言い始めさせられない |
| Volitional | 言い始めよう | |
| Polite volitional | 言い始めましょう | |
| Imperative | 言い始めろ | 言い始めるな |
| Conditional | 言い始めれば | 言い始めなければ |
| Tara conditional | 言い始めたら | 言い始めなかったら |
start saying; begin to speak
General use for beginning to say something. Often followed by a quotation or clause.
He suddenly started saying, "Actually, I want to quit the company."
The child started saying "Mama, Mama."
say something previously unspoken; bring up a hidden thought
Used when someone voices a thought or feeling they had kept inside. Often implies hesitation or a sudden decision to speak.
She finally started to say what she had kept in her heart for so long.
court someone; make advances
Rare, somewhat old-fashioned use for initiating romantic pursuit. Modern Japanese more often uses 口説く or アプローチする.
In old novels, scenes of a man courting a woman are often depicted.