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    Dictionary
    1. Dictionary
    2. Grammar
    3. 〜初める(〜そめる)

    〜初める(〜そめる)

    〜初める(〜そめる)

    This means to start doing something. It often describes doing something for the very first time. It sounds a bit formal or special.

    N1KMT8FormalStandardAuxiliary VerbWritten OnlyStarting An Action Compound VerbsGrammar

    Verb [stem] + 初めるPrimary

    This means to start doing something. It often describes doing something for the very first time. It sounds a bit formal or special.

    彼かれがこの地ちで暮くらし初そめた頃ころは、まだ周まわりに何なにもなかった。

    Around the time he first began to live in this land, there was still nothing around.

    NeutralPastAffirmativePrenominalDeclarativeHome & HousingHistory
    日に本ほんで初はじめてコーヒーを飲のみ初そめたのは、江え戸ど時じ代だいの蘭らん学がく者しゃだったと言いわれている。

    It is said that it was the Dutch scholars of the Edo period who first began to drink coffee in Japan.

    FormalPastAffirmativeMid SentenceHearsayHistoryFood & DiningCulture & Traditions
    雪ゆきが降ふり初そめる頃ころ、鳥とりたちは南みなみへと旅たび立だつ。

    Around the time the snow first begins to fall, the birds depart for the south.

    FormalNon PastAffirmativePrenominalDeclarativeNature & EnvironmentWeather & GeographyAnimals
    新あたらしい手しゅ法ほうはリスクが不ふ明めいだったため、すぐには使つかい初そめなかった。

    Regarding the new method, because the risks were unclear, they did not begin to use it right away.

    FormalPastNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeScience & MathBusiness & Finance
    この春はるから、日にっ記きをつけ初そめようと思おもう。

    I think I'll start keeping a diary, beginning this spring.

    NeutralNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceVolitionalDaily LifeLiterature

    This form makes your words sound more formal. It is like telling an important story. You use it for big events or serious habits. It makes the start of something feel very special.

    Both "~someru" and "~hajimeru" mean "to start." But "~someru" is special. It means starting something for the very first time. It sounds formal or old-fashioned. "~hajimeru" is for any kind of start. "~dasu" means starting suddenly, like rain.

    Don't use this when you talk with friends. It sounds too formal. For example, saying "I started eating" with this word is strange.

    More formal alternatives(1)

    〜始める

    This means you start doing something. It shows an action has just begun.

    Verb stem form

    This is a special form of a verb. You use it to join verbs together. You can also use it to make a noun from a verb.

    〜始める

    This means you start doing something. It shows an action has just begun.

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    Related concepts for this entry

    more_formal_than

    • 〜始める

    prerequisite

    • Verb stem form

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