The chart below shows the most common ways we talk about starting or finishing actions in Japanese. Each of these is used after the action you’re starting or stopping.
| Start doing something | Finish doing something |
|---|---|
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In this post, we’ll cover how to use each of these expressions and how to choose between them. We’ll also talk about how to use them in combination with other expressions, like ところだ transcribed tokoro da, to talk about things you are “about to start” or “about to finish” as below:
Are you ready? Let’s start!
How to say “start” in Japanese?
In Japanese, we most often use the expressions 始める transcribed hajimeru or 出す transcribed dasu to talk about starting or beginning an action. Both follow the masu stem of the verb being started. (Remember, the masu stem is the polite form with the 〜ます transcribed -masu ending removed!)
masu stem
action / situation
The “starting” verbs can then be conjugated just like any other verb.
But while, in this construction, both of these expressions broadly mean “to start doing something” they are used a bit differently. Broadly, here is the difference:
〜始める transcribed hajimeru is used for a start that feels controlled, methodical, or intentional.
〜出す transcribed dasu is used for a start that feels uncontrolled, spontaneous, or accidental.
Let’s have a closer look at each expression and look at some examples!
〜始める [hajimeru]
We use 〜始める transcribed hajimeru when an action or change is starting in a controlled way.
This can mean that it’s being done intentionally, with some thought or planning.
masu stem彼は大学生になって、小説を書き始めました。Transcription: Kare wa daigakusei ni natte, shōsetsu o kaki hajimemashita.Translation: He started writing a novel when he became a college student.もうお昼だから、そろそろ食べ始めよう。Transcription: Mō ohiru dakara, sorosoro tabe hajimeyō.Translation: It’s already noon, so let’s start eating.It can also mean that the action is starting on its own, gradually or methodically, in a way that feels “under control.”
この地方では３月末ごろに桜が咲き始める。Transcription: Kono chihō de wa san-gatsu matsu goro ni sakura ga saki hajimeru.Translation: Cherry blossoms start blooming in this region around the end of March.
There are several things you may want to keep in mind when you use 〜始める.
Only use 〜始める transcribed hajimeru with a verb for an action or a change. Do not use 〜始める transcribed hajimeru after a stative verb, like できる transcribed dekirumeaning can do or an existence verb, like いる transcribed irumeaning to be and ある transcribed arumeaning to be.
- existence verb❌ 彼は医者であり始めた。Transcription: Kare wa ishade ari hajimeta.Translation: Intended: He started being a doctor.Being a doctor is not an action or a change: it’s a state. This type of action is not typically followed by 始める transcribed hajimeru)
- verb of change✅彼は医者になり始めた。Transcription: Kare wa isha ni nari hajimeta.Translation: He started becoming a doctor.Becoming a doctor is an action or change, so it can be followed by 〜始める transcribed hajimeru
If 〜始める transcribed hajimeru is attached to a movement verb such as 行く transcribed ikumeaning to go, it indicates a habitual action.
movement verb妹は４月から高校に行き始めた。Transcription: Imōto wa shi-gatsu kara kōkō ni iki hajimeta.Translation: (My) younger sister started going to high school from April.This is about her habit, not about one particular time she started traveling to the school.〜始める transcribed hajimeru only attaches to truely instantaneous verbs like つく transcribed tsukumeaning to be switched on or 立つ transcribed tatsumeaning to stand up if the action is somehow stretched out in time, usually because it is being performed many times or by many separate individuals.
masu stem１２月に入り、所々でクリスマスのイルミネーションがつき始めた。Transcription: Jūni-gatsu ni hairi, tokorodokoro de kurisumasu no iruminēshon ga tsuki hajimeta.Translation: Entering into December, Christmas illuminations started to turn on here and there.授業が終わったので、みんなが席を立ち始めました。Transcription: Jugyō ga owatta node, min’na ga seki o tachi hajimemashita.Translation: The class was over, so everyone started to leave their seats.
〜出す [dasu]
We use 〜出す transcribed dasu to indicate that an action is starting suddenly, spontaneously, or in an uncontrolled way.
- 隣に座っていた人が突然話し出したので、びっくりした。Transcription: Tonari ni suwatte ita hito ga totsuzen hanashi dashita node, bikkuri shita.Translation: (I) was surprised when the person who was sitting next to me suddenly started talking.
- 止まっていた車が急に動き出した。Transcription: Tomatte ita kuruma ga kyū ni ugoki dashita.Translation: The parked car suddenly started moving.
Verbs marked by 〜出す transcribed dasu are therefore is frequently used with adverbs, 急に transcribed kyū nimeaning suddenly and 突然 transcribed totsuzenmeaning all of a sudden.
Here are some things to keep in mind when you use 〜出す transcribed dasu to mean “start”.
〜出す transcribed dasu is often used with an action or behaviors that are difficult to repress. Therefore, it is frequently used with verbs for emotions or reactions such as 笑う transcribed waraumeaning to laugh and 怒る transcribed okorumeaning to be angry.
reaction verb隣に座っていた人が突然笑い出した。Transcription: Tonari ni suwatte ita hito ga totsuzen warai dashita.Translation: The person sitting next to me suddenly burst into laughter.The translation “burst into laughter” is a better translation than “started laughing” here, as, like 笑い出した transcribed warai dashita, it sounds unintentional or uncontrollable.〜出す transcribed desu is also often used for a sudden change caused by nobody, such as with weather or other natural phenomena.
weather verb雨が降り出す。Transcription: Ame ga furi dasu.Translation: It is starting to rain.
When does 〜出す [dasu] not mean “to start”?
While 〜出す transcribed dasu is often translated as “to start”, it more literally means “to bring forth” or “to produce”. In some uses, therefore, it doesn’t make sense to translate it as “start.” For example:
When it follows a verb of creation, it implies that something was “brought into existence.”
このアーティストは毎年新しい作品を作り出している。Transcription: Kono ātisuto wa maitoshi atarashii sakuhin o tsukuri dashite iru.Translation: This artist creates new works every year.On its own, 作る transcribed tsukuru means “make.” Combined with 〜出す transcribed dasu, it means something more like to “create” or “bring into existence.”When it follows a verb of thinking, it implies that you’re remembering something (bringing forth information from your mind).
verb of creation今日は歯医者の予約があったことを思い出した。Transcription: Kyō wa haisha no yoyaku ga atta koto o omoi dashita.Translation: (I) remembered that (I) have a dentist appointment today.On its own, 思う transcribed omou means “to think.” Combined with 〜出す transcribed dasu it means “to remember” or “to call to mind.”When it follows a verb for placing or moving something, it implies that you’re moving or putting it out, to where it’s more visible.
- verb of transferATMからお金を引き出した。Transcription: ATM kara okane o hiki dashita.Translation: (I) withdrew money from an ATM.On its own, 引く transcribed hiku means “to pull.” Combined with 〜出す transcribed dasu it means “to take out”.
- verb of placementこれを掲示板に張り出しておいてください。Transcription: Kore o keijiban ni hari dashite oite kudasai.Translation: Please post this (out) on the bulletin board.On its own, 張る transcribed haru means “to spread something out”. Combined with 〜出す transcribed dasu it means “to post” publicly.
〜始める [hajimeru] vs. 〜出す [dasu]
Now that we’ve met the two main Japanese phrases meaning “to start,” let’s look at some of the ways you can decide which one to use.
Suddenness or unexpectedness
If the event started suddenly or was unexpected for the speaker, 〜出す transcribed dasu is usually a good choice.
However, that doesn’t mean that 〜始める transcribed hajimeru can’t be used for sudden starts. It just means that to make the start sound sudden, you’ll need to include an extra descriptor, like 突然 transcribed totsuzenmeaning suddenly or 急に transcribed kyū nimeaning suddenly / in haste.
- 急に雨が降り始めた。Transcription: Kyū ni ame ga furi hajimeta.Translation: Suddenly, it started raining.
- 雨が降り始めた 。Transcription: Ame ga furi hajimeta.Translation: It started raining (gradually).
Vigor or power
When you use 〜出す transcribed dasu, it implies that an action started with full force or vigorously. You can use 〜始める transcribed hajimeru in such a situation, but it doesn’t carry this extra implication.
- 彼は今年に入って痩せ出した。Transcription: Kare wa kotoshi ni haitte, yase dashita.Translation: He started losing weight this year.He probably lost a lot of weight right away.
- 彼は今年に入って痩せ始めた。Transcription: Kare wa kotoshi ni haitte, yase hajimeta.Translation: He started losing weight this year.We don’t know much about how and when he lost the weight.
Outpourings of emotion
We tend to use ～出す transcribed dasu for verbs representing emotion, emotional reactions, or desire, as these are uncontrollable.
However, you can use ～始める transcribed hajimaru with reaction verbs. It just sounds like a more gradual buildup of a feeling, reaction, or desire.
Planned and intentional actions
If an action was planned in 〜出す transcribed dasu is rarely used for an action that was planned or considered in advance. So make sure to only use 〜始める transcribed hajimeru in the following situations:
Discussing a plan for the future:
- ✅3時になったら勉強し始めます。Transcription: San-ji ni nattara benkyō shi hajimemasu.Translation: (I) will start studying when it becomes 3 o'clock.❌3時になったら勉強し出します。Transcription: San-ji ni nattara benkyō shi dashimasu.
- ✅来月からピアノのレッスンに通い始めるつもりだ。Transcription: Raigetsu kara piano no ressun ni kayoi hajimeru tsumori da.Translation: (I) am planning on taking a piano lesson starting next month.❌来月からピアノのレッスンに通い出すつもりだ。Transcription: Raigetsu kara piano no ressun ni kayoi dasu tsumori da.
When the “start” verb is in a volitional form:～う/よう transcribed u/yō
✅ そろそろご飯を作り始めよう。Transcription: Sorosoro gohan o tsukuri hajimeyō.Translation: Let’s start making a meal.❌そろそろご飯を作り出そう。Transcription: Sorosoro gohan o tsukuri dasō.When requesting that someone start doing something:
✅ 遅くなるので先に食べ始めてください。Transcription: Osoku naru node saki ni tabe hajimete kudasai.Translation: Please start eating because (I) will be late.❌ 遅くなるので先に食べ出してください。Transcription: Osoku naru node saki ni tabe dashite kudasai.
How to say “finish” in Japanese?
There are three verbs which mean “to finish” or “to end” in Japanese: 終わる transcribed owaru, 終える transcribed oeru, and やむ transcribed yamu. All three follow the masu stem of the verb for whatever action is ending, and can be conjugated like any other verb.
masu stem
ending action / situation
However, these three verbs are used in slightly different situations. Here’s a quick summary:
終わる transcribed owaru → A process is over
終える transcribed oeru → Someone stops doing an intentional, continuous action.
やむ transcribed yamu → A natural or unintentional action ends.
Let’s look at some examples so you can master this distinction!
終わる [owaru] and 終える [oeru]
The verbs 終わる transcribed owaru and 終える transcribed oeru are both used to indicate that a process or activity has finished. When used after a verb, they’re mostly interchangeable, but there are some slight differences, which we’ll talk about below.
The important thing to remember about these verbs is that they’re only used with verb for an activity or process. This means, we only use these endings for a verb that:
✅has some duration (not instant)
✅involves some action, effort, or change
Here are a few types of verbs you should not use before 終わる transcribed owaru or 終える transcribed oeru:
❌verbs for an instant change of state or position, like 出る transcribed derumeaning leave
❌verbs for states, like できる transcribed dekirumeaning be able
❌verbs of existence, like いる transcribed iru and ある transcribed aru
❌verbs for continuing another action, like 続く transcribed tsuzukumeaning to continue
終わる [owaru] vs. 終える [oeru]: What’s the difference?
Most of the time, when they’re used after a verb, 終わる transcribed owaru and 終える transcribed oeru are interchangeable. However there are a few differences:
終わる transcribed owaru focuses on the action being finished, while 終える transcribed oeru focuses more on the subject completing a task.
終える transcribed oeru is a little more formal, so you’re more likely to use this in writing.
Compare:
〜やむ [yamu]
The last verb meaning “to finish” is やむ transcribed yamu. This is used after actions or situations that finish on their own. So you’ll often use this to describe the end of a natural phenomenon (e.g. rain/wind/snow ends), an emotional reaction (e.g. crying/laughing/anger stops), or something that just happens by itself (e.g. swinging in the wind).
In situations like this, you cannot use 終わる transcribed owaru or 終える transcribed oeru, as both sound like someone stopped doing the action on purpose.
- ❌風が吹き終わった。Transcription: Kaze ga fuki owatta.
- ❌風が吹き終えた。Transcription: Kaze ga fuki oetta.
ところだ [tokoro da]: “Just about to…”
The Japanese phrase ところだ transcribed tokoro da is roughly equivalent to “(just) about to…” in English. It follows the plain form of the verb someone is about to do.
Plain form
Grammatically, ところ transcribed tokoro is a noun meaning “point” or “spot.” So the example above might be more literally translated as “It is the point in time (for me) to ride the train.” This means that:
The だ transcribed da part of ところだ transcribed tokoro da can be conjugated to be more polite or into past tense forms, just like after other nouns. We don’t generally use this expression in a negative sentence though!
Polite:これから家を出るところですから、着いたら連絡します。Transcription: Kore kara ie o deru tokoro desu kara, tsuitara renraku shimasu.Translation: (I) am about to leave the house, so (I) will let you know when (I) get there.ところ transcribed tokoro follows all the same grammar rules as other nouns, for example it must be followed by な transcribed na when it’s used before ので transcribed nodemeaning because.
もう寝るところなので、電気を消した。Transcription: Mō neru tokoro na node, denki o keshita.Translation: Because (I) am about to go to bed, so I turned off the lights.
You can use ところだ (tokoro da) after the expressions for “to start” or “to finish” that we introduced above, to indicate that you’re just about to start or finish some other action.
- masu stemstart (plain form)ちょうど映画を見始めるところだ。Transcription: Chōdo eiga o mi hajimeru tokoro da.Translation: (I) am just about to start watching a movie.
- masu stemstart (plain form)私は大声で笑いだすところだった。Transcription: Watashi wa ōgoe de warai dasu tokoro datta.Translation: (I) was just about to start laughing out loud.
- masu stemfinish (plain form)母は、私がちょうど夕食を食べ終わるところに帰ってきた。Transcription: Haha wa, watashi ga chōdo yūshoku o tabe owaru tokoro ni kaette kita.Translation: My mother came home just as I was finishing dinner.
- masu stemfinish (plain form)ようやく今、鐘が鳴りやむところだ。Transcription: Yōyaku ima, kane ga nari yamu tokoro da.Translation: Now, at last, the bells are about to stop ringing.
To sum up
In this post, we saw the main ways to say you started or finished doing something in Japanese. Here’s a quick summary:
To start → controlled vs. spontaneous:
始める transcribed hajimeru → Used for controlled, intentional, or methodical starts
出す transcribed dasu → Used for sudden, uncontrolled, or vigorous starts, often with emotions or natural phenomena.
To finish → intentional vs. natural:
終わる transcribed owaru and 終える transcribed oeru → an intentional process or continuous action ends.
やむ transcribed yamu → something stops or ends on its own (natural phenomena, emotions, etc.)
We also saw how you can use the plain form of a verb before ところだ transcribed tokoro da to say that you’re “just about to” do something.
Ready to practice what you’ve learned? Check out our activities to practice saying “start” and “finish” in Japanese to test your skills! Happy learning!
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