开始 kāi shǐ
“to begin; beginning; to start”
verb, verb / nounHSK 2 · 2021 list level 3Traditional 開始Measure word 个
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
开始 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 378: 开始 kāishǐ — Level 2; official annotation 2 (动、名). PDF page 89
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 开始
开始 means "to begin" or "to start." It is used as a verb for actions, activities, or events beginning, and it can stand alone or be followed by a verb phrase. A common pattern is subject + 开始 + verb phrase (+ 了/吧), as in 我开始学汉语了.
例句Example sentences
- 电影三点开始。diàn yǐng sān diǎn kāi shǐ.The movie starts at three.
- 我开始学习汉语了。wǒ kāi shǐ xué xí hàn yǔ le.I started learning Chinese.
- 我们开始吃饭吧。wǒ men kāi shǐ chī fàn ba.Let's start eating.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗我开始汉语。
✓我开始学汉语。
When 开始 means "start doing something," it is followed by a verb phrase, not a bare noun object.
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✗电影开始三点。
✓电影三点开始。
A time expression like 三点 goes before the verb 开始, not after it.