Usage note
“开始”表示一件事情或动作的起点，比如开始上课、开始吃饭。
“kāishǐ” biǎoshì yī jiàn shìqíng huò dòngzuò de qǐdiǎn, bǐrú kāishǐ shàngkè, kāishǐ chīfàn.
This word marks the starting point of an action or event, like beginning a class or starting a meal.
Context note
当我们要做一件事，从没有到有，就可以用“开始”。它常常用在日常活动、学习和游戏里。
Dāng wǒmen yào zuò yī jiàn shì, cóng méiyǒu dào yǒu, jiù kěyǐ yòng “kāishǐ”. Tā chángcháng yòng zài rìcháng huódòng, xuéxí hé yóuxì lǐ.
This word is used when an action or event is about to happen, marking the point where something goes from not happening to happening. It fits daily routines, learning, and play.
5 examples
今天早上我开始跑步了。
jīn tiān zǎo shàng wǒ kāi shǐ pǎo bù le。
This morning I started running.
妈妈让我开始做作业。
mā ma ràng wǒ kāi shǐ zuò zuò yè。
Mom asked me to start doing homework.
我们从今天开始学习新课程。
wǒ men cóng jīn tiān kāi shǐ xué xí xīn kè chéng。
We will start learning new courses from today.
他每天早上开始读书。
tā měi tiān zǎo shàng kāi shǐ dú shū。
He starts reading every morning.
会议将在明天开始。
huì yì jiāng zài míng tiān kāi shǐ。
The meeting will start tomorrow.
5 mini stories
今天天气很好，我们开始去公园散步。
jīn tiān tiān qì hěn hǎo， wǒ men kāi shǐ qù gōng yuán sàn bù。
The weather is very good today, so we started going for a walk in the park.
妈妈说每天早上要开始锻炼身体。
mā ma shuō měi tiān zǎo shàng yào kāi shǐ duàn liàn shēn tǐ。
Mom says that every morning you should start exercising.
我们从今天开始学习画画。
wǒ men cóng jīn tiān kāi shǐ xué xí huà huà。
We will start learning to draw from today.
他每天早上开始读书，读了一个小时。
tā měi tiān zǎo shàng kāi shǐ dú shū， dú le yí gè xiǎo shí。
He starts reading every morning and reads for an hour.
会议将在明天开始，我们今天要准备一下。
huì yì jiāng zài míng tiān kāi shǐ， wǒ men jīn tiān yào zhǔn bèi yí xià。
The meeting will start tomorrow, so we need to prepare today.
Mini dialogue
开始上课
A
我们开始上课吧。
Wǒmen kāishǐ shàngkè ba.
Let's start the class.
B
好的，老师。
Hǎo de, lǎoshī.
Okay, teacher.
开始做作业
A
你什么时候开始做作业？
Nǐ shénme shíhou kāishǐ zuò zuòyè?
When do you start doing homework?
B
我吃完饭就开始。
Wǒ chī wán fàn jiù kāishǐ.
I'll start right after eating.
Related words and contrasts
opposite
结束
jiéshù
end; finish
开始 means to start, 结束 means to finish.
similar
开头
kāitóu
beginning
开头 is the beginning part of something.