Quick Reference

Meaning & Definition

始まる (hajimaru) captures the moment something springs into motion on its own — a movie flickering to life, a new school term rolling in, a relationship quietly taking root. Unlike its transitive twin, this verb belongs to the thing that starts, not the person who starts it.

始まる is an intransitive verb, meaning the subject begins by itself without a direct object. You say eiga ga hajimaru (the movie begins) — the movie is the one doing the beginning. This contrasts sharply with the transitive 始める (hajimeru), where a person initiates something: shigoto wo hajimeru (to start work). Mixing the two trips up many learners at the N4 level. The noun form 始まり (hajimari) means “a beginning” or “an origin,” as in monogatari no hajimari (the start of a story). In register, 始まる works comfortably from casual conversation through formal announcements — its intransitive nature keeps it neutral and widely applicable.

How to Use It

The 始まる / 始める pair illustrates of Japanese intransitive/transitive verb pairing. A simple test: if you can ask “who started it?”, use 始める (transitive). If the thing just begins on its own, use 始まる (intransitive). Compare: jugyou ga hajimaru (the class begins — it starts by itself) vs. sensei ga jugyou wo hajimeru (the teacher begins the class — someone causes it to start). Learners also sometimes confuse 始まる with 始め (hajime), which is a fixed expression meaning “first” or “to begin with,” used in phrases like hajimemashite (nice to meet you).

Kanji Breakdown

The character 始 is built from the woman radical 女 on the left and 台 (platform, foundation) on the right. The combination evokes the idea of an original foundation — the base from which something springs. Historically, 始 pointed to a primordial source or origin, and that sense of “where things come from” still lives in 始まる today. The verb ending まる reinforces the intransitive quality, signaling that the action is self-contained within the subject.

Example Sentences

Cultural Context

In Japan, the moment something begins carries real ceremonial weight. School years, fiscal quarters, broadcast programs, and sporting events all have a defined hajimari that is announced clearly — often with a bell, a whistle, or a formal phrase. The word 始まる itself frequently appears in those announcements, marking the boundary between before and after.

The phrase hajimari no hi (the day of beginning) appears in graduation speeches, company founding ceremonies, and New Year reflections. It frames the start of something as inherently meaningful rather than arbitrary, reflecting a cultural tendency to mark transitions deliberately. This is why 始まる often carries a slightly elevated, anticipatory feeling even in ordinary speech.

In sports broadcasting, the exclamation shiai ga hajimari masu! (the match is starting!) is a familiar signal that builds audience energy before a game. The intransitive construction is key here — no agent is named, which creates a sense that the event is unfolding naturally rather than being controlled, giving the moment a feeling of inevitability and excitement.

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