What is the difference between "始める", "言い出す", "振り出す", "口火を切る", "始まる"?

"始める" means "to start (something)", "言い出す" means "to start talking, to bring up (a topic), to suggest", "振り出す" means "to start to rain/snow (suddenly); to issue (a check, bill)", "口火を切る" means "to start (a discussion, dispute, etc.), to lead off, to fire the first shot", "始まる" means "to start".

Quintuple VS

Synonym Boundary: "始める", "言い出す", "振り出す", "口火を切る", "始まる"

All represent the core concept "start", but require precise selection.

Japanese Option A

始める

はじめる (hajimeru)

N4 / CEFR

Japanese Option B

言い出す

いいだす (iidasu)

N3 / CEFR

Japanese Option C

振り出す

ふりだす (furidasu)

N2 / CEFR

Japanese Option D

口火を切る

くちびをきる (kuchibi o kiru)

N1 / CEFR

Japanese Option E

始まる

はじまる (hajimaru)

A1 / CEFR

Quintuple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "start" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "始める", "言い出す", "振り出す", "口火を切る", "始まる" based on context.

始める (はじめる (hajimeru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to start (something)" and is used when Transitive verb. To initiate an action or activity..
言い出す (いいだす (iidasu) - Level: N3): Maps to "to start talking, to bring up (a topic), to suggest" and is used when 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。.
振り出す (ふりだす (furidasu) - Level: N2): Maps to "to start to rain/snow (suddenly); to issue (a check, bill)" and is used when 雨や雪が急に降り始める様子や、小切手・手形などを発行する際に使われます。/ Used when rain or snow suddenly starts, or when issuing checks or bills..
口火を切る (くちびをきる (kuchibi o kiru) - Level: N1): Maps to "to start (a discussion, dispute, etc.), to lead off, to fire the first shot" and is used when An idiomatic expression meaning to initiate something, especially a discussion, debate, conflict, or a series of events. きっかけを作る、最初に始めることを意味する。比喩的に用いられることが多い。.
始まる (はじまる (hajimaru) - Level: A1): Maps to "to start" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR A1 vocabulary syllabus..

Mixing these up can easily lead to unnatural translations. Refer to the bilingual context cards below to master the boundaries!

Context for "始める"

今日から新しい仕事を始めます。

I will start a new job today.

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.

Context for "振り出す"

急に雨が振り出したので、洗濯物を取り込んだ。

It suddenly started raining, so I brought in the laundry.

Context for "口火を切る"

会議で彼が口火を切ると、活発な議論が始まった。

When he started the discussion at the meeting, a lively debate began.

Context for "始まる"

毎日、日本語を練習するために始まる。

Every day, I start to practice Japanese.

Synonym Mastery Challenge

Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?

Fill in the blank: "今日から新しい仕事を始めます。" (Meaning: "I will start a new job today.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Remember: "始める" is correct here because it represents "to start (something)" in the context: "I will start a new job today.".