begin
verbVerb Forms
Idioms | present simple I / you / we / they begin | |
| he / she / it begins | |
| past simple began | |
| past participle begun | |
| -ing form beginning |
- [intransitive, transitive]
to start doing something; to do the first part of something 开始；启动 Shall I begin? 我可以开始了吗？ - begin at something
Let's begin at page 9. 咱们从第 9 页开始。 - begin with something
I'd like to begin with a simple question. 我想从一个简单的问题开始。 - begin by doing something
She began by thanking us all for coming. 她首先对我们大家的到来表示感谢。 - begin something
We began work on the project in May. 我们于五月份启动这个项目。 I began (= started reading) this novel last month and I still haven't finished it. 我上月就开始读这本小说，到现在还没读完。 - begin something with something
He always begins his lessons with a warm-up exercise. 他讲课前总是先让学生做预备练习题。 - begin something at something
I began piano lessons at the age of six. 我六岁开始上钢琴课。 - begin something by doing something
She began her speech by praising her opponent. 她以表扬对手开始了她的演讲。 - begin something as something
He began his political career as a student (= when he was a student). 他从当学生时起就开始了他的政治生涯。 - begin to do something
I began to feel dizzy. 我开始感到头晕目眩。 Leaves are just beginning to appear. 树叶刚刚开始出现。 We have already begun to address the problem. 我们已经开始解决这个问题。 I was beginning to think you'd never come. 我都开始以为你不会来了。 - begin doing something
Everyone began talking at once. 大家立刻开始谈了起来。 We began working on the project in May. 我们在五月份开始做这个项目。
Language Bank firstfirstOrdering your points 梳理要点 This study has the following aims: first, to investigate how international students in the UK use humour; second, to examine how jokes can help to establish social relationships; and third, to explore the role that humour plays in helping overseas students adjust to life in the UK. 本研究有以下几个目的：第一，调查在英国的留学生如何运用幽默；第二，考察笑话如何帮助建立社交关系；第三，探究幽默对留学生适应英国生活所起的作用。
Let us begin by identifying some of the popular joke genres in the UK. 首先我们来探究一下流行于英国的一些笑话类型。
Next, let us turn to/Next, let us consider the question of gender differences in the use of humour. 接下来，我们来探讨一下运用幽默的性别差异问题。
Finally/Lastly, let us briefly examine the role of humour in defining a nation’s culture. 最后，我们来简略地探讨一下幽默在界定民族文化中所起的作用。
Synonyms startstart- begin
- start off
- kick off
- commence
- open
- start to begin to happen or exist; to begin in a particular way or from a particular point:
When does the class start? 什么时候上课？
- begin to start to happen or exist; to start in a particular way or from a particular point; to start speaking:
When does the concert begin? 音乐会什么时候开始？
start or begin? 用 start 还是 begin？ - start off (rather informal
) to start happening or doing something; to start by doing or being something: 指进行或开展起来、首先进行、一开始是： The discussion started off mildly enough. 讨论颇为温和地开展起来。
- kick off (informal
) to start an event or activity, especially in a particular way; (of an event, activity, etc.) to start, especially in a particular way: 尤指以…开始（活动）、（活动）以…开始： Tom will kick off with a few comments. 汤姆讲话时要先发表几点意见。 The festival kicks off on Monday, September 13. 节期从 9 月 13 日星期一开始。
- commence (formal
) to start happening: 指开始发生： The meeting is scheduled to commence at noon. 会议定于午间召开。
- open to start an event or activity in a particular way; (of an event, a film or a book) to start, especially in a particular way:
The story opens with a murder. 故事以一宗谋杀案作序幕。
- to start/begin/start off/kick off/commence/open with something
- to start/begin/start off/kick off/commence/open by doing something
- to start/begin/start off/commence as something
- a campaign/season/meeting starts/begins/starts off/kicks off/commences/opens
- a film/book starts/begins/starts off/opens
Extra ExamplesWe had to begin all over again. 我们不得不从头再来。 He took a deep breath and slowly began. 他深吸一口气，缓缓开始。 We will begin with a brief discussion of the problems. 我们开始先简单讨论一下这些问题。 Let's begin by writing down a few ideas. 我们先写出几种想法，以此作为开始。 Begin your story at the beginning, and carry on to the end. 请从头开始讲你的故事，一直讲到结尾。 At last the guests began to arrive. 客人们终于陆续到达了。 It was beginning to snow. 开始下雪了。 She began to cry. 她哭了起来。 When will you begin recruiting? 你们何时开始招募人员？
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- again
- all over again
- anew
- …
- be due to
- be expected to
- be scheduled to
- …
- by
- with
- begin at the beginning
- be just beginning
- be only beginning
- …
- [intransitive]
to start to happen or exist, especially from a particular time 起始；开始存在（或进行） When does the concert begin? 音乐会什么时间开始？ - begin in…
Work on the new bridge is due to begin in September. 新桥定于九月份动工。 - begin at…
The lecture begins at 8pm. 讲座晚上8点开始。 The evening began well. 晚会开始得很顺利。
Which Word? begin / startbegin / start- There is not much difference in meaning between begin and start, though start is more common in spoken English:
begin 和 start 的含义差别不大，不过 start 较常用于口语： What time does the concert start/begin? 音乐会什么时候开场？ She started/began working here three months ago. 她三个月前开始在这儿工作。
begin 常用以指一系列事情的开始： The story begins on the island of Corfu. 故事从科孚岛开始。
start 亦含出发、使发生、使（机器）运转之义，begin 不含此义： We’ll need to start at 7.00. 我们需要在 7 点钟出发。 Who do you think started the fire? 你看是谁点的火？ The car won’t start. 汽车发动不起来。
- You can use either an infinitive or a form with -ing after begin and start, with no difference in meaning:
begin 和 start 之后接动词不定式或 -ing 形式均可，在意义上无差别： I didn’t start worrying/to worry until she was 2 hours late. 她晚了两小时还没到，我才开始担忧起来。
- After the forms beginning and starting, the -ing form of the verb is not normally used:
beginning 和 starting 之后一般不用动词的 -ing 形式： It’s starting/beginning to rain. 开始下雨了。 - It’s starting/beginning raining.
Extra ExamplesThe entertainment was due to begin at 8.30. 娱乐活动预定 8 点 30 分开始。 Once it has finished, the DVD automatically begins again. 数字激光视盘放完后会自动从头再开始播放。 Their troubles are only beginning. 他们的麻烦才刚刚开始。 Research into the problem began immediately. 立即展开了对这个问题的研究。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- again
- all over again
- anew
- …
- be due to
- be expected to
- be scheduled to
- …
- by
- with
- begin at the beginning
- be just beginning
- be only beginning
- …
- [intransitive]
to have something as the first part or the point where something starts （从…）开始；（以…）为起点 Where does Europe end and Asia begin? 欧洲和亚洲的交界处在哪里？ - begin with something
Use ‘an’ before words beginning with a vowel. 在以元音开始的词之前使用 an。 ‘I'm thinking of a country in Asia.’ ‘What does it begin with (= what is the first letter)?’ “我想的是一个亚洲国家。” “它的首字母是什么？” Each chapter begins with a quotation. 每一章的开头都有一条引语。 - begin at…
The path begins at Livingston village. 这条小路始于利文斯顿村。 The story begins on the island of Corfu. 故事从科孚岛开始。
- [intransitive, transitive]
to start or make something start for the first time 创始；创办 - [intransitive] begin as something
to be something first, before becoming something else 起初是；本来是 - [transitive] + speech
to start speaking 开始讲话 - [transitive] not begin to do something
to make no attempt to do something or have no chance of doing something 不想；绝不能 I can't begin to thank you enough. 我说不尽对你的感激。 He didn't even begin to understand my problem. 他甚至没有弄明白我的问题。
Word OriginOld English beginnan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German beginnen.
Idioms
charity begins at home
- (saying)
you should help and care for your own family, etc. before you start helping other people 博爱始于自家
to begin with