开始 (kāi shǐ) — to start, to begin; beginning, start

Definition

开始 is the everyday 'to start / beginning' for actions and events. Use 开头 for the start of a story or speech; 最初 for 'at the very beginning' of a time period.

to startto beginbeginningstart

Measure word · 个

Examples

开始。
Wǒ míng tiān kāi shǐ xué xí.
I will start studying tomorrow.
开始。
Wǒ men kāi shǐ shàng kè ba.
Let's start class.
开始。
Zhè shì yí gè xīn de kāi shǐ.
This is a new beginning.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

开kāiopen

始shǐbegin

“开” and “始” both point to starting, giving the sense of beginning.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 開; 开 is its simplified writing.

門一廾開

門門méndoor
一一yīlatch and/or wooden pole that shuts a door
廾廾gǒnga pair of hands

The traditional form 開 shows 廾, a pair of hands, and 一, a latch or pole, inside 門, a door: hands opening a latched door. The simplified 开 is a shorthand form, so its parts are not the original pieces.

Open 开 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

女台始

Meaning part形符xíngfú

女女nǚwoman

Sound part声符shēngfú

台

台tái始shǐ

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

始 is made of 女 (woman) and 台, which gives the sound.

Open 始 →