kāishǐ: 开始 - To Start, To Begin, Beginning

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Summary: Learn how to use 开始 (kāishǐ), the essential and most common Chinese word for 'to start' or 'to begin'. This comprehensive guide covers its meaning, character breakdown, practical usage in daily life, and cultural context. With 10 practical example sentences, this page will help beginners master the difference between 开始 (kāishǐ) and other similar terms, allowing you to accurately express the concept of a 'beginning' in Mandarin Chinese.

Pinyin (with tone marks): kāishǐ

Part of Speech: Verb, Noun

HSK Level: HSK 1

Concise Definition: To start an action or a process; the beginning or outset of something.

In a Nutshell: 开始 (kāishǐ) is your go-to word for “start” and “begin” in Chinese. It's incredibly versatile and can be used for almost any situation, from starting a movie (verb) to talking about a new beginning in life (noun). It's a fundamental building block for learners and is used constantly in everyday conversation.

开 (kāi): This character's original form depicts two hands opening a gate or door (門). Its core meaning is “to open,” which extends to concepts like “to start,” “to turn on,” or “to operate.”

始 (shǐ): This character means “beginning” or “origin.” It is composed of the radical for “woman” (女) and a phonetic component (台). The “woman” radical hints at the concept of origin and birth, the ultimate beginning.

When combined, 开始 (kāishǐ) literally means “to open the beginning,” a very direct and powerful way to express the concept of starting something.

开始 (kāishǐ) itself is a direct, functional word, but it connects to a deep cultural appreciation for good beginnings. In Chinese culture, how you start something—a business, a year, a project—is believed to heavily influence its outcome.

This is reflected in concepts like 开门红 (kāiménhóng), literally “open door red,” which means achieving success right at the beginning of a new venture or the new year. Businesses often hold ceremonies on their first day of operation after the Lunar New Year to ensure a prosperous 开始 (kāishǐ).

Comparison to English: While “start” and “begin” are near-perfect translations, 开始 (kāishǐ) is more broadly used than the formal English word “commence.” You can use 开始 (kāishǐ) in virtually any context, from a casual “Let's start eating” to a formal “The ceremony will now begin.” In English, “commence” would sound overly formal in a casual setting, but a more formal Chinese equivalent like 启动 (qǐdòng) exists for specific contexts like launching a major project.

As a Command: In races, games, or official events, 开始! (Kāishǐ!) is used as the command to “Start!” or “Go!”.

`结束 (jiéshù)` - The direct antonym of 开始 (kāishǐ). It means “to end,” “to finish,” or “conclusion.”

`开头 (kāitóu)` - A noun that is a very close synonym for 开始 (kāishǐ) as a noun. It means “the beginning” or “the start,” often used for the beginning of a text, story, or speech.

`启动 (qǐdòng)` - A more formal and technical verb for “to start.” It's used for launching projects, starting engines, or activating systems. Think “launch” or “initiate.”

`着手 (zhuóshǒu)` - A verb meaning “to put one's hand to” or “to set about.” It emphasizes beginning the actual, hands-on work of a task.

`从...起 (cóng…qǐ)` - A slightly more formal or written synonym for the `从…开始` structure. It also means “starting from…”

`刚 (gāng)` - An adverb meaning “just now.” Crucially different from 开始 (kāishǐ) as it describes a recently completed action, not the start of one.

`当初 (dāngchū)` - A noun referring to a time in the past: “in the beginning,” “at first,” “originally.” Used to reflect on a past starting point.