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始 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
始
shǐ
to begin
d, 8 strokes, radical 女, rank #10569, Very Hard
始
shǐ
to start
d, 8 strokes, radical 女, rank #10569, Very Hard
始
shǐ
then
d, 8 strokes, radical 女, rank #10569, Very Hard
始
shǐ
only then
d, 8 strokes, radical 女, rank #10569, Very Hard
始
shǐ
to begin, to start; beginning
d, 8 strokes, radical 女, rank #10569, Very Hard
shǐ(shi3)shi T3
1to begin
2to start
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March 24, 2026
始shǐ(shi3)
始 (shǐ) means 'to begin' or 'to start' and is commonly used to indicate the initiation of an action or event. It can also imply a sequence of events, as in 'only then' when used in sentences. This character is often found in contexts related to starting something new or emphasizing the beginning of a process.
Strokes8Radical女Frequency#10569DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of beginnings is often emphasized during festivals, such as the Lunar New Year, when people partake in rituals aimed at ensuring a good start to the year. 始 plays a significant role in idiomatic expressions that celebrate new beginnings.
Memory tip
Imagine the character 始 as a person standing at the starting line of a race, ready to 'start' (shǐ) running. The left part of the character, 女, looks like a person, while the right part, 口, can represent a mouth shouting 'Go!' to begin the race.
Meanings of 始
shǐ(shi3)
1to begin
2to start
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 始 means.
About 始
始Simplified
8Strokes
女Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#10569Frequency Rank
Podcast: 始
Podcast: 始
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AI study notes for 始
Quick Contrast
开始 (kāi shǐ) vs 进行 (jìn xíng) — use 始 when emphasizing the initiation of an action, while 开始 is more general for starting something and 进行 focuses on the ongoing process.
Usage Notes
始 is often used in both written and spoken Chinese, but learners may confuse it with 结束 (jiéshù), which means 'to end.' It is important to remember that 始 indicates the beginning of something, while 结束 indicates the opposite. Common collocations include '开始' (kāishǐ - to start) and '始终' (shǐzhōng - from beginning to end).
HSK Study Tips
While 始 is not explicitly listed in the HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK Level 3 words related to time and sequence, such as 先 (xiān - first) and 开始 (kāishǐ - to begin). Students should focus on recognizing how 始 is used in phrases and sentences to express initiation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 始 with the similar-sounding word 只 (zhǐ - only), leading to sentences like '我始去' (Wǒ shǐ qù - I begin to go), which should be corrected to '我开始去' (Wǒ kāishǐ qù - I start to go).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 始
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始 = 女 + 台. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 始
IDS Structure⿰女台
始Full character
=
女nü3
left
台Tai2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 始?
How to say to begin in Chinese
“to begin” in Chinese is始shǐ
始 (shǐ) means 'to begin' or 'to start' and is commonly used to indicate the initiation of an action or event. It can also imply a sequence of events, as in 'only then' when used in sentences. This character is often found in contexts related to starting something new or emphasizing the beginning of a process.
When to use 始
始 is often used in both written and spoken Chinese, but learners may confuse it with 结束 (jiéshù), which means 'to end.' It is important to remember that 始 indicates the beginning of something, while 结束 indicates the opposite. Common collocations include '开始' (kāishǐ - to start) and '始终' (shǐzhōng - from beginning to end).
始 or something close to it
开始 (kāi shǐ) vs 进行 (jìn xíng) — use 始 when emphasizing the initiation of an action, while 开始 is more general for starting something and 进行 focuses on the ongoing process.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 始 with the similar-sounding word 只 (zhǐ - only), leading to sentences like '我始去' (Wǒ shǐ qù - I begin to go), which should be corrected to '我开始去' (Wǒ kāishǐ qù - I start to go).
Write 始
始
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Grammar patterns of 始
始 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
You know, I wasn't sold on this trip in the beginning.
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Word Family of 始
Words containing this character20
开始kāishǐto begin開始
始终shǐzhōngall along始終
始shǐto begin
原始yuánshǐfirst
创始人chuàngshǐréncreator創始人
初始chūshǐinitial
伊始yīshǐoutset
自始至终zìshǐzhìzhōngfrom start to finish (idiom)自始至終
起始qǐshǐto originate
秦始皇qínshǐhuángQin Shihuang (259-210 BC), the first emperor
始建shǐjiànfirst built
始作俑者shǐzuòyǒngzhěfig. the originator of an evil practice
始祖shǐzǔprimogenitor
始终如一shǐzhōngrúyīunswerving from start to finish (idiom)始終如一
创始chuàngshǐto initiate創始
初始化chūshǐhuàinitialization
始末shǐmòwhole story
周而复始zhōu’érfùshǐthe wheel comes full circle週而復始
始料未及shǐliàowèijíunforeseen
善始善终shànshǐshànzhōngto carry things through善始善終
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 始
What does 开始 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 始
You can use 始 to indicate the start of an action, for example, '我从今天开始学习中文' (Wǒ cóng jīntiān shǐxué zhōngwén - I will begin learning Chinese from today).
Yes, 始 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more commonly seen in written language.
始 is often used in more literary or formal contexts, while 开始 is more colloquial and widely used in everyday conversation.
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