开始 (kāishǐ) — to begin / start

开始 (kāishǐ)

A word meaning "to start" or "to begin" as a verb, and "the beginning" or "the start" as a noun. It is one of the most common time-related words in Mandarin. Its antonym is 结束 (jiéshù), meaning "to end."

Meanings

1. [verb] To start, to begin (an action or event).
2. [noun] The beginning, the start (of something).

Example Sentences

电影几点开始？ Diànyǐng jǐ diǎn kāishǐ? What time does the movie start?

我们开始上课吧。 Wǒmen kāishǐ shàngkè ba. Let's start the class.

从开始到现在，他一直很努力。 Cóng kāishǐ dào xiànzài, tā yīzhí hěn nǔlì. From the beginning until now, he has always worked hard.

比赛已经开始了。 Bǐsài yǐjīng kāishǐ le. The competition has already started.

Collocations

Memory Hook

开 means "to open" and 始 means "beginning" — opening something is the moment it begins. When you open a door, things start.