Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "開けます" vs "始まる"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
開けます
あけます (akemasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
始まる
はじまる (hajimaru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both 開けます and 始まる are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
開けます (あけます (akemasu)) represents "to open" (Level: N5) and typically represents Transitive verb. Used for opening doors, windows, books, shops, eyes, etc. The object is marked with を..
On the other hand, 始まる (はじまる (hajimaru)) translates to "to begin, to start (intransitive)" (Level: N4) and is used for Intransitive verb. Used for things that start by themselves or a process starting. The transitive form is 始める. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "開けます"
窓を開けます。
I open the window.
Bilingual Sentence for "始まる"
授業は9時に始まります。
Class starts at 9 o'clock.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "窓を ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "I open the window.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "開けます" fits here because it represents "to open" in the context: "I open the window.".