始 (shǐ) - begin, start, commence & beginning, origin, inception

始Tone 3

shǐ ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 女

上姝

始 · shǐ

begin, start, commence;

beginning, origin, inception;

first, initial;

to initiate, to found.

begin, start, commencebeginning, origin, inceptionfirst, initial

Usage highlights

beginningoriginfounderprimitiveinitial stagesince

Synonyms

  • 初— beginning, initial
  • 起— start, rise
  • 开端— commencement, outset

Antonyms

  • 终— end, conclusion
  • 末— end, final
  • 结束— finish, conclude

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The meeting will begin at 9 AM (会议将在上午九点开始).
  • From the very beginning (从一开始).
  • The origin of the universe (宇宙的起源).
  • He is one of the founders of the company (他是公司的创始人之一).

Collocations

  • beginning(开始)
  • origin(起源)
  • founder(创始人)
  • primitive(原始)
  • initial stage(初始阶段)
  • since(自始)

Idioms

  • From beginning to end(自始至终)
  • A good beginning is half the battle(始善终成)
  • Begin well and end well(善始善终)
  • The beginning of all things(万物之始)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Taoist philosophy, 始 represents the primordial beginning, as in '无名天地之始' (Nameless, it is the beginning of heaven and earth) from the Tao Te Ching.
  • The character combines the female radical 女 with 台 (platform/terrace), suggesting the foundational or generative aspect of beginnings.

FAQ