ISORI

〜始(はじ)める

JLPT N4:

begin to

Says an action starts: "start doing", "begin to…".

How to form it

  • Start from the ます form and replace ます with 始(はじ)める: 降(ふ)ります becomes 降(ふ)り始(はじ)める.
  • 始(はじ)める is an ichidan verb: 降(ふ)り始(はじ)めました.

Examples

雨(あめ)が降(ふ)り始(はじ)めました。

It started to rain.

去年(きょねん)から日本語(にほんご)を勉強(べんきょう)し始(しはじ)めた。

I started studying Japanese last year.

Notes

  • It works for planned and unplanned starts. For a start that is sudden and unexpected, 〜出(だ)す is also used.

Common mistakes

  • Using the dictionary form. Say 降(ふ)り始(はじ)める, not 降(ふ)る始(はじ)める.

Similar meaning