Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI start | ||
| NegativeI don’t start |
JAPANESE VERB
はじまる
始まる
to start
- #51 most used
- Godan verb (u-verb)
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI started | ||
| NegativeI didn’t start |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formstarting, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am starting | ||
| Please (て ください)please start |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can start | ||
| NegativeI can’t start |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to start | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to start |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s start |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I start
- If, when (たら) if I start
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) start (do it)
- Plain command start!
- Please don’t please don’t start
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am started | ||
| CausativeI make someone start |
How to use はじまる
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
じゅぎょう は くじ に はじまります。
Class starts at nine.
-
Past
えいが は もう はじまりました か。
Has the film started already?
-
Te-form
まつり は もう はじまって います よ。
The festival has already begun.
-
Potential
みんな が そろえば、 すぐ はじまります。
Once everyone's here, it starts right away.
-
Want to
はやく なつやすみ が はじまって ほしい。
I want the summer holidays to start soon.
-
Volitional
えいが が はじまる まえ に、 トイレ に いこう。
Let's go to the toilet before the film starts.
-
Conditional
しあい が はじまったら、 でんわ に でられません。
Once the match starts, I can't answer the phone.
-
Commands and requests
じゅぎょう が はじまる まで、 ここ で まちなさい。
Wait here until class starts.
-
Passive and causative
コンサート が はじまる まえ に、 なまえ を よばれました。
Before the concert started, my name was called.
Good to know
- はじまる is what an event does (it starts); はじめる is what you do (you start it).
- Being what a thing does, はじまる has no potential, want, volitional, imperative or passive of its own; those sentences show it beside another verb.
Where you hear はじまる
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Beginner Level 1
- しごと は はちじ に はじまります。 Work starts at eight.
- はなび は はちじ に はじまりました。 The fireworks started at eight.
- らいしゅう、 がっこう が はじまります。 School starts next week.
Japanese · Beginner Level 3
- はなび は いつも しちじ に はじまります。 The fireworks always start at seven.
- しけん は にじ に はじまりました。 The exam started at two.
- あした、 あたらしい クラス が はじまります。 Tomorrow, a new class starts.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).