What is the difference between "始める", "開始", "振り出す", "着手する", "口火を切る"?

"始める" means "to start (something)", "開始" means "start; commencement; beginning", "振り出す" means "to start to rain/snow (suddenly); to issue (a check, bill)", "着手する" means "to start work, to embark on, to commence", "口火を切る" means "to start (a discussion, dispute, etc.), to lead off, to fire the first shot".

Quintuple VS

Synonym Boundary: "始める", "開始", "振り出す", "着手する", "口火を切る"

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

開始

かいし (kaishi)

N3 / CEFR

Japanese Option C

振り出す

ふりだす (furidasu)

N2 / CEFR

Japanese Option D

着手する

ちゃくしゅする (chakushusuru)

N2 / CEFR

Japanese Option E

口火を切る

くちびをきる (kuchibi o kiru)

N1 / CEFR

Quintuple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "start" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "始める", "開始", "振り出す", "着手する", "口火を切る" 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..
開始 (かいし (kaishi) - Level: N3): Maps to "start; commencement; beginning" and is used when Often used for events, meetings, projects, or formal procedures. Can be a noun.
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..
着手する (ちゃくしゅする (chakushusuru) - Level: N2): Maps to "to start work, to embark on, to commence" and is used when Often used for formally or significantly beginning a project, task, or investigation..
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。.

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 "開始"

会議は午後1時に開始します。

The meeting will start at 1 PM.

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 "着手する"

新しい研究プロジェクトは来月から着手される予定だ。

The new research project is scheduled to commence next month.

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.

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.".