How to tell them apart
Both follow the masu stem to talk about starting, but 始める is neutral while 出す adds suddenness. For example, 食べ始めた simply means started eating, while 泣き出した or 走り出した means burst into tears or dashed off. So 雨が降り始めた reports that rain began, while 雨が降り出した stresses that it suddenly started.
- 始める・はじめる Use 始める to describe a neutral beginning of an action or state at a clear point in time.
- 出す・だす Use 出す to describe starting an action suddenly, abruptly or spontaneously.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| 始める・はじめる meru hajimeru | begin to; start doing | N4 |
| 出す・だす su dasu | To start doing something suddenly or without warning | N4 |
始める・はじめる meru hajimeru
begin to; start doing
はじめる added to another verb marks the start of that action, often translated as begin to or start doing. It attaches to the masu stem, so 走る becomes 走り始める and 勉強する becomes 勉強し始める. はじめる itself is a ru verb and conjugates normally for tense and politeness, as in 始めた or 始めました. It is neutral in style and works for both momentary changes and longer habits.
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週に１回のペースで走り始めて、今は毎日走っています。
I started running once a week. And now I run every day.
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私はフランス語を勉強し始めました。
I've started learning French.
出す・だす su dasu
To start doing something suddenly or without warning
~出す expresses that an action suddenly begins, often unexpectedly or with energy, as in bursting into laughter or rain starting to fall. It attaches to the masu-stem of an action verb, and the resulting compound conjugates as a godan verb, as in 泣き出す, 走り出した or 降り出します. It is neutral in style, but it does not fit verbs of gradual change or ongoing states that cannot start in a sudden burst.
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父さんがキャンプに行こうって言い出したんだ。
My father suggested that we go camping.
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モーターは動き出した。
The motor started to run.
始める・はじめる and 出す・だす are both JLPT N4 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.