始める
はじめる
to start, to begin
Hajimeru (始める) is an ichidan verb meaning "to start, to begin". Its polite form is 始めます (hajimemasu), its te form is 始めて (hajimete), its past form is 始めた (hajimeta), and its negative form is 始めない (hajimenai).
Ichidan verbJLPT N4
Hajimeru (始める) conjugation quick reference
始める means "to start, to begin". Its main forms are listed below, with links to the grammar pattern behind each form.
Hajimeru example sentences
日本語を始めます。
I will start learning Japanese.
新しい仕事を始めました。
I started a new job.
ダイエットを始めません。
I won’t start a diet.
How to use Hajimeru: grammar notes
•Use を before 始める to mark what you're starting — for example, 勉強を始めます means "I will start studying."
•Don't use に after 始める to show what you're starting — it's a common mistake; always use を instead.
•You can attach 始める to a verb stem (like 食べ from 食べる) to say "start doing something" — for example, 食べ始める means "to start eating."
•JLPT N4 level
Common phrases with Hajimeru
勉強を始める(べんきょうをはじめる)
to start studying
仕事を始める(しごとをはじめる)
to start work
話を始める(はなしをはじめる)
to start talking / to begin a conversation
Hajimeru (始める) conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Forms | ||
| Dictionary Form | 始める | hajimeru |
| Masu Form | 始めます | hajimemasu |
| Te Form | 始めて | hajimete |
| Past Form | 始めた | hajimeta |
| Negative Form | 始めない | hajimenai |
| Past Negative | 始めなかった | hajimenakatta |
| Polite Forms | ||
| Polite Present | 始めます | hajimemasu |
| Polite Past | 始めました | hajimemashita |
| Polite Negative | 始めません | hajimemasen |
| Polite Past Negative | 始めませんでした | hajimemasendeshita |
| Advanced Forms | ||
| Potential Form | 始められる | hajimerareru |
| Passive Form | 始められる | hajimerareru |
| Causative Form | 始めさせる | hajimesaseru |
| Causative Passive | 始めさせられる | hajimesaserareru |
| Volitional Form | 始めよう | hajimeyou |
| Imperative Form | 始めろ | hajimero |
| Conditional Forms | ||
| Conditional (ば) | 始めれば | hajimereba |
| Conditional (たら) | 始めたら | hajimetara |
| Other Forms | ||
| Progressive Form | 始めている | hajimeteiru |
| Desire (たい) | 始めたい | hajimetai |
| Prohibition | 始めるな | hajimeruna |