JLPT N4 Grammar – The difference between “〜出す” and “〜始める”
Table of Contents
1. The difference between “〜出す” and “〜始める”
2. 〜出す
3. 〜始める
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comments
Q: Do “〜出す” and “〜始める” have the same meaning?
A: Both expressions indicate that an action or phenomenon begins.
However, they are used in different situations and convey slightly different nuances.
In some cases, they can be used interchangeably, while in others, only one of them sounds natural. Let’s take a closer look.
〜出す (JLPT N4)
[Meaning]
An action or phenomenon suddenly begins
[Rules]
[V] Verb stem form＋出す
[Commonly used verbs]
（雨が）降る (to rain)・泣く(to cry)・笑う(to laugh)・走る(to run)・動く(to move) etc.
This expression is often used when the speaker feels that something began suddenly or unexpectedly.
[Examples]
急に雨が降り出したので、コンビニで傘を買いました。
Suddenly it started to rain, so I bought an umbrella at the convenience store.
子供が泣き出して、どうすればいいか分かりませんでした。
The child started crying and I didn’t know what to do.
母は私の話を聞いて、急に笑い出しました。
My mother suddenly started laughing after hearing my story.
電車がゆっくり動き出しました。
The train slowly started moving.
〜始める (JLPT N4)
[Meaning]
An action or phenomenon begins
[Rules]
[V] Verb stem form＋始める
[Commonly used verbs]
食べる(to eat)・変わる(to change)・咲く(to bloom)・通う(to commute)・利用する (to use), etc.
This expression can be used broadly to indicate the beginning of something, regardless of whether it starts suddenly.
It is also often used when talking about a new habit or an action that someone has consciously decided to begin.
[Examples]
外国人の友達が日本で暮らし始めました。
My friend from overseas started living in Japan.
桜が咲き始めると、春を感じます。
When the cherry blossoms start to bloom, I feel that spring has arrived.
最近、オンラインで英語を勉強し始めました。
Recently, I started studying English online.
来月から、新しい会社で働き始めます。
I will start working at a new company next month.
Let’s Compare
[出す]
This expression indicates that an action or phenomenon began suddenly.
It is often used with words such as “急に” (suddenly) and “突然” (suddenly or unexpectedly), and it can convey the speaker’s surprise or a sudden change in the situation.
[Examples]
急に雨が降り出したので、コンビニで傘を買いました。
It suddenly started to rain, so I bought an umbrella at a convenience store.
⇒ This indicates that it began raining at an unexpected time.
彼は私を見ると、突然走り出しました。
When he saw me, he suddenly started running.
⇒ Although 走る (to run) is an intentional action, 走り出す can be used because the action began suddenly.
It is important to note that this does not mean that 〜出す cannot be used with intentional actions.
[始める]
This is a relatively neutral expression used broadly to indicate the beginning of an action or phenomenon.
It is commonly used in the following situations:
・Consciously beginning an action
・Starting a new habit
・A change or phenomenon beginning
・Beginning a planned action
[Examples]
夕日が沈み始めました。
The sun has started to set.
⇒ This indicates the beginning of the natural phenomenon of the sun setting.
ヨガ教室に通い始めました。
I started attending yoga classes.
⇒ This describes a newly established habit.
まだ山本さんが来ていませんが、食べ始めましょうか。
Mr. Yamamoto is not here yet, but shall we start eating?
⇒ Because this refers to beginning an action that the group has planned, “食べ始めましょう” sounds natural.
“食べ出しましょう” would suggest suddenly beginning to eat, so it sounds unnatural in this context.
[When Both Can Be Used]
There are cases in which both “〜出す” and “〜始める” can be used.
However, they convey slightly different nuances.
[Examples]
雨が降り出しました。
It suddenly started to rain.
⇒ This gives the impression that the rain began suddenly.
雨が降り始めました。
It started to rain.
⇒ This objectively describes the beginning of the rain.
子どもが泣き出しました。
The child suddenly started crying.
⇒ This conveys that the child began crying unexpectedly and may also suggest that the speaker was surprised.
子どもが泣き始めました。
The child started crying.
⇒ This neutrally describes the beginning of the child’s action of crying.
Summary
[出す]
- Indicates that an action or phenomenon begins suddenly.
- It is often used with words such as “急に” (suddenly) and “突然” (suddenly or unexpectedly).
- It can convey the speaker’s surprise or a sudden change in the situation.
- It can also be used with actions that a person performs intentionally.
[始まる]
- Broadly indicates the beginning of an action or phenomenon.
- Whether the action began suddenly is not important.
- It can be used for new habits and actions that someone consciously decides to begin.
- It is also commonly used for planned actions and with expressions such as 〜ましょう (let’s…).
Quiz
Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. 始めました
夕方になって、空が赤くなり始めました。
In the evening, the sky started to turn red.
*Because this sentence objectively describes the beginning of the change in which the sky turns red, “始めました” is the natural choice.
A. 出しました
映画を見ていたら、友達が急に泣き出しました。
While we were watching a movie, my friend suddenly started crying.
*Because the sentence includes “急に”, “出しました” is the natural choice to express that the action of crying began suddenly.
A. 始めました
父は最近、スマホを使い始めました。
My father recently started using a smartphone.
*Because this describes the beginning of a new activity or habit—using a smartphone—“始めました” is the natural choice.
A. 始めてください
私は遅れそうなので、先にみなさんで飲み始めてください。
I might be late, so please start drinking without me.
*Because the speaker is asking the others to begin a planned activity, “始めてください” is the natural choice.
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