Onyomi: シ · Kunyomi: -はじ.める, はじ.まる, はじ.める · Meanings: begin, commence
Kanji for begin, commence
Fast lookup with examples and clean stroke-order visualization.
Experience 始 in 3D! View the complete 3D Kanji model to understand its shape and stroke depth from every angle. Click the button below to see 始 in 3D and explore how each stroke forms this character.
Please support us by sharing!
The kanji 朝 combines the “sun” radical (日) with the “morning” or “assembly” component (十＋月), symbolizing the sun rising over the land. In ancient times, it represented the morning time when people gathered or started their day. 朝 came to mean morning or dynasty, capturing beginnings, light, and daily renewal.
The sun rising over the land — 朝 means morning or the start of the day.
Imagine the sun rising and starting a new day — that’s 朝, the kanji for morning.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 始め | はじめ | beginning, start, outset, opening | common JLPT-N1 JLPT-N5 Noun, Adverb (fukushi) |
| 初めて | はじめて | for the first time | common JLPT-N5 Adverb (fukushi), Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 始まる | はじまる | to begin, to start, to commence | common JLPT-N5 Godan verb with 'ru' ending, Intransitive verb |
| 始める | はじめる | to start, to begin, to commence, to initiate, to originate | common JLPT-N4 Ichidan verb, Transitive verb |
| 始まり | はじまり | origin, beginning, start | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 始終 | しじゅう | continuously, from beginning to end, from first to last | common JLPT-N2 Adverb (fukushi), Noun |
| 始発 | しはつ | first departure (of the day), first train, first bus | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 始末 | しまつ | management, dealing with, settlement, cleaning up, disposal | common JLPT-N1 Noun, Suru verb |
| 初めに | はじめに | first, firstly, first of all, to begin with, in the beginning, at the beginning | common JLPT-N2 Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.) |
| 初めまして | はじめまして | nice to meet you, I'm glad to make your acquaintance, how do you do? | common JLPT-N2 JLPT-N1 Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.) |
| 始業 | しぎょう | start of work, commencement, opening | common Noun, Suru verb, Intransitive verb |
| 始動 | しどう | starting (a machine, engine, etc.) | common Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb, Intransitive verb |
| 始まらない | はじまらない | It's no use | Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.) |
| 始発駅 | しはつえき | starting station | Noun |
| 始球式 | しきゅうしき | ceremonial first pitch | Noun |