始まる

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 映画が7時に始まります。▶ —
   The movie starts at 7.
2. 春が始まった。▶ —
   Spring has begun.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Hajimaru (始まる) is a godan intransitive — "to begin" (self-initiating subject). Pairs with transitive hajimeru (ichidan). Eiga ga hajimaru (the movie starts, intransitive) vs eiga o hajimeru (start the movie, transitive). Common with abstract subjects: jinsei ga hajimaru (life begins). Idioms: ~kara hajimaru (begin from ~), ~ni hajimari ~ni owaru (begin in ~ and end in ~). Korean "si-jak-doe-da" mirrors. The ~aru / ~eru intransitive / transitive pair is a major Japanese verb family — tomaru / tomeru, hajimaru / hajimeru, shimaru / shimeru — memorize together.

Quick check

1. Pattern meaning of "jinsei wa deai ni hajimari wakare ni owaru"?

   • "Begins with ~ and ends with ~" — paired beginning / ending pattern
   • Life begins twice
   • Meetings and partings simultaneously
   • Life's terminus