Start, stop, keep at it

Stage 4General verbsChunk 5 of 27 · items 390–394 of 484

Phases of an activity — something starting (hajimaru) or you starting it (hajimeru), its ending, quitting it — plus ganbaru, the effort of keeping at it.

Mix-ups

owatta = it finished (shigoto owatta, done for the day) while yameta = someone stopped or quit (shigoto yameta, quit the job); hajimaru (it starts, ga) vs hajimeru (you start it, o): eiga ga hajimaru / shigoto o hajimeru.

hajimeru

polite hajimemasudrama rank #330

start (something)

始める はじめるPlay 始めますPlay

Starting an activity, hobby, job or meeting (X o hajimeru), and hajimeyou means 'let's start'.

casualPlay

saikin yoga hajimeta.

I started yoga recently.

最近ヨガ始めた。

politePlay

saikin yoga o hajimemashita.

I recently started yoga.

最近ヨガを始めました。

Transitive; the thing itself starting is hajimaru (jugyou ga hajimaru).

Learn alongside: hajimaru

hajimaru

polite hajimarimasudrama rank #435

begin (by itself)

始まる はじまるPlay 始まりますPlay

Says an event, class, show or season starts, with it marked by ga; starting something yourself is hajimeru with o.

casualPlay

nanji kara hajimaru?

What time does it start?

何時から始まる？

politePlay

nanji kara hajimarimasu ka?

What time does it start?

何時から始まりますか？

mou hajimatteru = it's already started.

Learn alongside: hajimeruLearn first: hajimeru

owaru

polite owarimasudrama rank #190

end; be finished

終わる おわるPlay 終わりますPlay

An activity coming to an end (shigoto owatta?), and owatta! also announces that your own task is done.

casualPlay

mou shigoto owatta?

Are you done with work yet?

もう仕事終わった？

politePlay

mou shigoto wa owarimashita ka?

Have you finished work yet?

もう仕事は終わりましたか？

Slang owatta... = 'I'm doomed' (shiken owatta = I bombed the exam); that sense is slang, not 'it finished'.

Learn alongside: yameru

yameru

polite yamemasudrama rank #117

stop; quit

やめるPlay やめますPlay

Stopping an action, giving up a habit or plan, and quitting a job or school (X o yameru), with yamete! meaning 'stop it!'

casualPlay

mou shigoto yameta?

Did you already quit your job?

もう仕事辞めた？

politePlay

mou shigoto o yamemashita ka?

Have you already quit your job?

もう仕事を辞めましたか？

Written 辞める for quitting a job, やめる for stopping an action; one word by ear.

Learn alongside: owaru

ganbaru

polite ganbarimasudrama rank #235

try hard; hang in there

頑張る がんばるPlay 頑張りますPlay

Putting in effort or holding out (ganbaru, ganbatta), and ganbarimasu is a standard polite promise to do your best.

casualPlay

tsugi wa ganbaru yo.

I'll do better next time.

次は頑張るよ。

politePlay

tsugi wa ganbarimasu.

I'll do my best next time.

次は頑張ります。

The bare encouragement ganbatte is drilled as a formula among the social phrases.