始める・はじめる (meru hajimeru)

Meaning & usage

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.

Example sentences 7

1. 週しゅうに１回かいのペースで走はしり始はじめて、今いまは毎日まいにち走はしっています。

   I started running once a week. And now I run every day.

2. 私はフランス語を勉強し始めました。

   I've started learning French.

3. つぼみがほころび始めた。

   The buds began to open.

4. 私は日本語を学びはじめてから４０年になる。

   It is forty years since I began the study of Japanese.

5. コンタクトレンズをつけ始めたのは、いつですか？

   When did you start wearing contact lenses?

6. 先生は教室を見回して話し始めた。

   The teacher looked around the classroom and started to talk.

7. 先週中国語を習い始めました。

   I started learning Chinese last week.