begin

verb

1. 开始；启动
   to start doing sth; to do the first part of sth
   1. We began work on the project in May.
      我们于五月份启动了这项工程。
   2. 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。
   3. 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。
   4. 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。
   5. Shall I begin?
      我可以开始了吗？
   6. Let's begin at page 9.
      咱们从第9页开始。
   7. She began by thanking us all for coming.
      她首先对我们大家的到来表示感谢。
   8. I began to feel dizzy.
      我开始感到头晕目眩。
   9. At last the guests began to arrive.
      客人们终于陆续到达了。
   10. She began to cry.
       她哭起来了。
   11. It was beginning to snow.
       开始下雪了。
   12. I was beginning to think you'd never come.
       我开始以为你是不会来了。
   13. Everyone began talking at once.
       大家同时开始讲话。
   14. When will you begin recruiting?
       你们何时开始招募人员？
2. 起始；开始存在（或进行）
   to start to happen or exist, especially from a particular time
   1. When does the concert begin?
      音乐会什么时间开始？
   2. Work on the new bridge is due to begin in September.
      新桥定于九月份动工。
   3. The evening began well.
      晚会开始得很顺利。
3. 起初是；本来是
   to be sth first, before becoming sth else
   1. He began as an actor, before starting to direct films.
      他先是当演员，后来开始执导影片。
   2. What began as a minor scuffle turned into a full-scale riot.
      开始的小冲突演变成了大规模的暴乱。
4. （从…）开始；（以…）为起点
   to have sth as the first part or the point where sth starts
   1. Use ‘an’ before words beginning with a vowel.
      在以元音开始的词之前使用an。
   2. ‘I'm thinking of a country in Asia.’ ‘What does it begin with (= what is the first letter) ?’
      “我在想一个亚洲国家。”“它的首字母是什么？”
   3. Each chapter begins with a quotation.
      每一章的开头都有一条引语。
   4. Where does Europe end and Asia begin?
      欧洲和亚洲的交界处在哪里？
   5. The path begins at Livingston village.
      这条小路始于利文斯顿村。
5. 开始讲话
   to start speaking
   1. ‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ he began, ‘welcome to the Town Hall.’
      “女士们、先生们”，他开始发言说，“欢迎光临市政厅。”
6. 创始；创办
   to start or make sth start for the first time
   1. The school began in 1920, with only ten pupils.
      这所学校创建于1920年，当时只有十名学生。
   2. He began a new magazine on post-war architecture.
      他创办了一份专论战后建筑的新杂志。
7. 不想；绝不能
   to make no attempt to do sth or have no chance of doing sth
   1. I can't begin to thank you enough.
      我说不尽对你的感激。
   2. He didn't even begin to understand my problem.
      他完全没有弄明白我的问题。

1. VERB 开始；着手
   To begin to do something means to start doing it.
   1. He stood up and began to move around the room...
      他起身开始在屋里来回走动。
   2. The weight loss began to look more serious...
      体重下降眼看开始变得愈发厉害了。
   3. Snow began falling again.
      雪又开始下了。
2. V-ERG （使）开始（进行或存在）
   When something begins or when you begin it, it takes place from a particular time onwards.
   1. The problems began last November...
      问题在去年11月份开始出现。
   2. He has just begun his fourth year in hiding...
      他东躲西藏的第四个年头刚刚开始。
   3. The US is prepared to begin talks immediately.
      美国愿意立刻开始谈判。
3. VERB 从…开始；从…着手；首先做（某事）
   If you begin with something, or begin by doing something, this is the first thing you do.
   1. Could I begin with a few formalities?
      请允许我开场先讲几句套话。
   2. ...a businessman who began by selling golf shirts from the boot of his car...
      靠他的汽车后备箱练摊兜售高尔夫球衫起家的商人
   3. He began his career as a sound editor.
      他是从声音剪辑师做起的。
4. VERB 开始说；开口说
   You use begin to mention the first thing that someone says.
   1. 'Professor Theron,' he began, 'I'm very pleased to see you'...
      “西伦教授，”他开口说道，“很高兴见到您。”
   2. He didn't know how to begin.
      他不知从何说起。
5. VERB 起初是；开始是
   If one thing began as another, it first existed in the form of the second thing.
   1. What began as a local festival has blossomed into an international event.
      原先的地方节日已经发展成为一项国际性活动。
6. VERB （界限或边缘）起始于
   If you say that a thing or place begins somewhere, you are talking about one of its limits or edges.
   1. The fate line begins close to the wrist...
      命运线始于接近手腕的地方。
   2. Rue Guynemer begins at the front of the Fitzgerald site.
      吉内梅街始于菲茨拉德故居前。
7. VERB 以…开头；首字母为
   If a word begins with a particular letter, that is the first letter of that word.
   1. The first word begins with an F.
      第一个词的首字母为F。
8. VERB 无法，难以（解释、理解、想象等）
   If you say that you cannot begin to imagine, understand, or explain something, you are emphasizing that it is almost impossible to explain, understand, or imagine.
   1. You can't begin to imagine how much that saddens me.
      你都无从想象这让我有多悲伤。
9. PHRASE 最初；刚开始
   You use to begin with when you are talking about the first stage of a situation, event, or process.
   1. It was great to begin with but now it's difficult.
      一开始非常好，但现在可就难了。
10. PHRASE 首先；第一
    You use to begin with to introduce the first of several things that you want to say.
    1. 'What do scientists you've spoken with think about that?' — 'Well, to begin with, they doubt it's going to work.'
       “跟你聊过的科学家是怎么看的？”——“嗯，首先，他们怀疑这能否行得通。”
11. charity begins at home → see: charity

Begin, start, and commence all have a similar meaning, although commence is more formal and is not normally used in conversation. The meeting is ready to begin... He tore the list up and started a fresh one. ...an alternative to commencing the process of European integration. Note that begin, start, and commence can all be followed by an -ing form or a noun, but only begin and start can be followed by a 'to' infinitive.
begin, start 和 commence 意思相近，但 commence 更为正式，通常不用在日常对话中：The meeting is ready to begin（会议可以开始了），He tore the list up and started a fresh one（他把清单撕碎，开始另列一张），an alternative to commencing the process of European integration（启动欧洲一体化进程的另一种方式）。注意，begin, start 和commence 后都可以接 -ing 形式或名词，但只有 begin 和 start 可以接带 to 的动词不定式。

1. The Social Democrats say they are ready after all to begin talks on joining a coalition government.
   社会民主党人竟然说他们准备开始谈判加入联合政府了。
2. He's awaiting trial, which is expected to begin early next year.
   他在等候审判，预计明年初开始。
3. The talks are to begin tomorrow
   谈判将于明天开始。
4. He stood up and began to move around the room
   他起身开始在屋里来回走动。
5. The weight loss began to look more serious
   体重下降眼看开始变得愈发厉害了。
6. Snow began falling again.
   雪又开始下了。
7. The problems began last November
   问题在去年11月份开始出现。
8. He has just begun his fourth year in hiding
   他东躲西藏的第四个年头刚刚开始。
9. The US is prepared to begin talks immediately.
   美国愿意立刻开始谈判。
10. Could I begin with a few formalities?
    请允许我开场先讲几句套话。
11. He began his career as a sound editor.
    他是从声音剪辑师做起的。
12. 'Professor Theron,' he began, 'I'm very pleased to see you'
    “西伦教授，”他开口说道，“很高兴见到您。”
13. He didn't know how to begin.
    他不知从何说起。
14. What began as a local festival has blossomed into an international event.
    原先的地方节日已经发展成为一项国际性活动。
15. The fate line begins close to the wrist
    命运线始于接近手腕的地方。
16. Rue Guynemer begins at the front of the Fitzgerald site.
    吉内梅街始于菲茨拉德故居前。
17. The first word begins with an F.
    第一个词的首字母为F。
18. You can't begin to imagine how much that saddens me.
    你都无从想象这让我有多悲伤。
19. It was great to begin with but now it's difficult.
    一开始非常好，但现在可就难了。
20. 'What do scientists you've spoken with think about that?' — 'Well, to begin with, they doubt it's going to work.'
    “跟你聊过的科学家是怎么看的？”——“嗯，首先，他们怀疑这能否行得通。”
21. When the aims of the partners begin to diverge, there's trouble.
    当合作伙伴的目标开始出现分歧时，麻烦就产生了。
22. Campaigning will begin in earnest tomorrow
    竞选将于明日郑重开始。
23. When you have got a handle on your anxiety you can begin to control it.
    一旦了解了自己焦虑的原因，你就开始能控制它了。
24. The trial is due to begin next month.
    审判将于下个月开始。
25. I'm afraid I'm a little muddled. I'm not exactly sure where to begin.
    恐怕我有点糊涂了，我不确定该从何处着手。
26. If relations between Hanoi and Washington begin to normalise, anything is possible.
    如果河内和华盛顿之间的关系开始恢复正常，任何事情都有可能。
27. The plum season is about to begin
    快到吃李子的季节了。
28. You can add ingredients to these desserts as they begin to set
    这些甜点开始凝固时就可以加入辅料了。
29. Their trial will shortly begin
    他们的审判很快就要开始了。
30. All right, but make it snappy. The meeting is to begin in a few minutes.
    好的，但要快，没有几分钟就要开会了。

  start begin commence【导航词义：开始】

  start v. 开始

〔辨析〕指动作开始且持续下去，强调开始这一事实。

  begin v. 开始

〔辨析〕最常用词，指为某一过程或进程开个头，常可与 start 换用。

  commence v. 〈正式〉开始，着手

〔辨析〕指开始某种正式行动，常伴有正式程序或一定的仪式，语气庄重。

v.

to begin with

• 起初；开始
  at first
  1. I found it tiring to begin with but I soon got used to it.
     我起初觉得很累，但不久便适应了。
  2. We'll go slowly to begin with.
     我们开始时会慢慢来的。
• 首先；第一点
  used to introduce the first point you want to make
  1. ‘What was it you didn't like?’ ‘Well, to begin with, our room was far too small.’
     “你不喜欢的是什么呢？”“唔，首先是，我们的屋子太小了。”

charity begins at home

• 博爱始于自家
  you should help and care for your own family, etc. before you start helping other people