始Time and change

Starting and finishing

Add an ending to a verb stem to say something starts, bursts out, or finishes.

All lessons

The set

Pick an ending

All three attach to the ます stem of a verb.

読(よ)みはじめました。Yomi hajimemashita.

I started reading.

~はじめる: a broad “start to”.

Planned or sudden?

~はじめる vs. ~出す

雨(あめ)が降(ふ)りはじめました。Ame ga furi hajimemashita.

It started raining.

A neutral description.

赤(あか)ちゃんが泣(な)き出(だ)しました。Akachan ga naki dashimashita.

The baby suddenly started crying.

Abrupt, and outside your control.

In use

~はじめる

去年(きょねん)から日本語(にほんご)を勉強(べんきょう)しはじめました。Kyonen kara nihongo o benkyou shi hajimemashita.

I started studying Japanese last year.

子供(こども)が歩(ある)きはじめました。Kodomo ga aruki hajimemashita.

My child has started walking.

客(きゃく)が次々(つぎつぎ)に着(つ)きはじめました。Kyaku ga tsugitsugi ni tsuki hajimemashita.

Guests began arriving one after another.

Quick actions can use it when several people are involved.

In use

~出す

赤(あか)ちゃんが急(きゅう)に泣(な)き出(だ)しました。Akachan ga kyuu ni naki dashimashita.

The baby suddenly started crying.

彼(かれ)は突然(とつぜん)笑(わら)い出(だ)しました。Kare wa totsuzen warai dashimashita.

He suddenly burst out laughing.

ポケットから財布(さいふ)を取(と)り出(だ)しました。Poketto kara saifu o tori dashimashita.

I took my wallet out of my pocket.

It can also mean “out”, physically.

In use

~終わる

In writing, ~終える means the same. Unlike the others, it conjugates like 食べる.

この手紙(てがみ)はもう書(か)き終(お)わりました。Kono tegami wa mou kaki owarimashita.

I've finished writing this letter.

書(か)き終(お)わったら、出(だ)してください。Kaki owattara, dashite kudasai.

When you've finished writing, please hand it in.

Check yourself

What stage is it at?

ピアノを習(なら)いはじめました。Piano o narai hajimemashita.

Your turn

Start or end?

今朝(けさ)本(ほん)を読(よ)み＿＿。まだ最初(さいしょ)です。Kesa hon o yomi . mada saisho desu.

Say it yourself

A new hobby

You started learning guitar last month. Yesterday, as you practiced, your dog suddenly started barking. You've just finished practicing today.

Automatic feedback on your own answers is coming to Premium.

It opens, or you open itNext: Trying and preparing

Builds on

Helpful to know first

Verb formsPast, negative and polite forms, and the three verb groups