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N4

Kanji 始: meanings, readings, and example words.

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Kanji 始: commence, begin

Key takeaways

Kanji 始: commence, begin. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

始
N4

Meaning

commencebegin

On reading

シ

Kun reading

はじ.める-はじ.めるはじ.まる

Radical

女

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 始

commence, begin

Kanji structure breakdown

始

Structure breakdown

女 + 台

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

Imagine a woman (女) stepping onto a platform (台) to announce the start of a ceremony. This character represents the beginning or commencement of something.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

シ
  • 始発しはつ

    first train / initial departure

  • 始末しまつ

    management / dealing / settlement / cleanup

  • 終始しゅうし

    from beginning to end

  • 始めましてはじめまして

    Nice to meet you / How do you do

  • 原始げんし

    origin / primeval / ancient

  • 始終しじゅう

    continuously / all the time

  • 開始かいし

    start / beginning / commencement

Kun reading

はじ.める
  • 始めるはじめる

    to begin / to start

  • 始まるはじまる

    to begin / to start

Commonly used words

  • 始発
    しはつ

    first train / initial departure

  • 始末
    しまつ

    management / dealing / settlement / cleanup

  • 終始
    しゅうし

    from beginning to end

  • 始めまして
    はじめまして

    Nice to meet you / How do you do

  • 原始
    げんし

    origin / primeval / ancient

  • 始終
    しじゅう

    continuously / all the time

  • 始める
    はじめる

    to begin / to start

  • 始まる
    はじまる

    to begin / to start

Example sentences

Example 1

始発の電車に間に合った。

Translation

I caught the first train.

Example 2

仕事で始発に乗ることが多い。

Translation

I often take the first train for work.

Example 3

失敗の始末をどうつけるか考えた。

Translation

I thought about how to deal with the failure.

Example 4

仕事の始末をちゃんとしなさい。

Translation

Make sure to properly finish up your work.

Kanji 始: commence, begin | Daily Nihongo