Japanese Kanji

shi

commence · begin

Grade 3 · JLPT N3 · 8 strokes

Readings

  • ONshi
  • KUNはじ.めるhaji
  • KUN-はじ.める-haji
  • KUNはじ.まるhaji

Meaning

Commence, begin.

Stroke order for 始

始 is part of the elementary school jōyō kanji, taught in grade 3. In the JLPT proficiency test it appears at N3 (intermediate) level. With 8 strokes, this character appears in numerous compound words throughout written Japanese.

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