Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "開始", "言い出す", "着工", "手始め"
All represent the core concept "start", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
開始
かいし (kaishi)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
言い出す
いいだす (iidasu)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
着工
ちゃっこう (chakkou)
N2 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
手始め
てはじめ (tehajime)
N2 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "start" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "開始", "言い出す", "着工", "手始め" based on context.
- 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.
- 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。.
- 着工 (ちゃっこう (chakkou) - Level: N2): Maps to "start of construction" and is used when Specifically refers to the commencement of construction work on a building or project. Often used with 「する」.
- 手始め (てはじめ (tehajime) - Level: N2): Maps to "start, beginning, first step" and is used when Refers to the initial action or first step in a series of tasks or an endeavor. Often used with 「手始めに」.
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 "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 "着工"
新しいビルの建設は来月着工する予定だ。
Construction of the new building is scheduled to start next month.
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.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "会議は午後1時に ＿＿＿ します。" (Meaning: "The meeting will start at 1 PM.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "開始" is correct here because it represents "start; commencement; beginning" in the context: "The meeting will start at 1 PM.".