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始
始 (readings: し, はじ; Japanese kanji) means “to begin”. It is a Grade 3 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 3 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 始める (to start).
What does 始 mean?
| Kanji | 始 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | to begin |
| Readings | し, はじ |
| Grade | Grade 3 (Medium) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 始
始 is read し or はじ depending on the word.
Example words with 始
| Example | 始める (to start) |
|---|
Practice writing 始 — free
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Updated: 2026-07-14