始
commence · begin
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of woman and platform. Beginning of woman bearing child.
Symbolism
Start, founder, settlement. Represents starting point of things.
Component Breakdown
woman + 台
Words & Expressions
Words written with 始
Four-Character Compounds
一部始終
いちぶしじゅう
full particulars; all the details; the whole story
終始一貫
しゅうしいっかん
consistently; unchangingly; throughout
無始無終
むしむしゅう
everlastingness; eternity
Proverbs & Idioms
始めあれば終わりあり
はじめあればおわりあり
What has a beginning has an end
Everything that starts must end
Anime & Manga
Re:ゼロから始める異世界生活
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-
A well-known work with 始 in its Japanese title.
魔王学院の不適合者 ～史上最強の魔王の始祖、転生して子孫たちの学校へ通う～
The Misfit of Demon King Academy: History’s Strongest Demon King Reincarnates and Goes to School with His Descendants
A well-known work with 始 in its Japanese title.
キミと僕の最後の戦場、あるいは世界が始まる聖戦
Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World
A well-known work with 始 in its Japanese title.
斉木楠雄のΨ難 Ψ始動編
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.: Reawakened
A well-known work with 始 in its Japanese title.
ゼロから始める魔法の書
Grimoire of Zero
A well-known work with 始 in its Japanese title.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 始 mean in Japanese?
始 means commence, begin.
How do you read 始?
On'yomi: シ (SHI). Kun'yomi: はじ.める、-はじ.める、はじ.まる (hajimeru, hajimeru, hajimaru).
How many strokes does 始 have?
始 has 8 strokes. Its radical is 女 (woman).
Is 始 a good kanji for a tattoo?
始 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means commence, begin. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.