Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Start" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "start", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
言い出す
いいだす (iidasu)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
手始め
てはじめ (tehajime)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "start" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 言い出す and 手始め.
In Japanese, 言い出す (いいだす (iidasu)) is typically associated with "to start talking, to bring up (a topic), to suggest" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Often implies initiating a conversation or being the first to speak about something, sometimes after hesitation or difficulty. 誰かが最初に話すこと、または躊躇した後に何かを話すことを意味します。.
On the other hand, 手始め (てはじめ (tehajime)) maps to "start, beginning, first step" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Refers to the initial action or first step in a series of tasks or an endeavor. Often used with 「手始めに」. A literal translation of "start" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "言い出す"
会議で誰も意見を言い出せなかった。
No one could bring up their opinion in the meeting.
Bilingual Context for "手始め"
まずは手始めに資料を集めることから始めよう。
First, let's start by gathering materials.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "会議で誰も意見を言い出せなかった。" (Meaning: "No one could bring up their opinion in the meeting.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "言い出す" fits here because it means "to start talking, to bring up (a topic), to suggest" in the context of: "No one could bring up their opinion in the meeting.". "手始め" represents "start, beginning, first step".