HSK Guide

开始開始 kāishǐ — to begin, to start

kāishǐ (first tone, high and level)kai1shi3

Traditional: 開始

to begin, to start

HSK 2· HSK 1–4 (classic)verbnoun
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Meanings

  1. to begin, to start

    To start. It can stand alone (电影开始了) or introduce the activity that begins (开始上课, 开始学习汉语), in which case a second verb follows it directly.

    verb

  2. the beginning, the start

    noun

Character breakdown

  • 开開
    kāi (first tone, high and level)

    to open; to turn on, to switch on; to start, to begin; to drive (a vehicle); to hold (a meeting)

    4 strokesRadical 廾

Example sentences

  • 我们八点开始上课。我們八點開始上課。Wǒmen (third tone, dipping) bā (first tone, high and level) diǎn (third tone, dipping) kāishǐ (first tone, high and level) shàng (fourth tone, falling) kè. (fourth tone, falling)···

    Our class starts at eight.

  • 电影已经开始了。電影已經開始了。Diànyǐng (fourth tone, falling) yǐjīng (third tone, dipping) kāishǐ (first tone, high and level) le. (neutral tone)···

    The film has already started.

Common mistakes

  • Not quite我开始了学习汉语。

    Correct我开始学习汉语了。

    了 does not squeeze in between 开始 and the verb it introduces. It goes at the end of the sentence, where it reports the change of situation.

Similar words

Words containing 开