begin
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++ldoce_706_zbe·gin /bɪˈɡɪn/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense began /-ˈɡæn/, past participle begun /-ˈɡʌn/, present participle beginning) 1 start doing STH 开始做某事 [intransitive, transitive] to start doing something 开始；着手 As everybody’s here, let’s begin. 大家都到齐了，我们就开始吧。 In the third year, students begin the study of classical Chinese. 学生在三年级开始学古代汉语。 The president begins talks with the prime minister tonight. 总统将于今晚和首相展开会谈。begin to do something She began to feel a sense of panic. 她开始有一种恐慌的感觉。begin doing something I began teaching in 1984. 我在1984年开始教书。► see thesaurus at start2 start happening 开始发生 [intransitive, transitive] if something begins, or you begin something, it starts to happen or exist from a particular time （使）开始〔发生或存在〕 It was the coldest winter since records began. 那是有史以来最寒冷的冬天。begin at The meeting begins at 10.30 am. 会议上午10点半开始。3 do first 首先做 [intransitive] if you begin with something or begin by doing something, this is the first thing you do 以…开始begin with Shall we begin with a prayer? 我们先做个祷告好吗？begin by doing something I’ll begin by thanking you all for being here tonight. 首先我要感谢大家今晚来到这里。4 book/word etc 书/单词等 [intransitive] if a book, film, or word begins with something, it starts with a particular event or letter 〔书、电影或单词〕以…开始，以…开头begin with ‘Psychosis’ begins with a P. 单词 psychosis的第一个字母是p。 RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say start rather than begin: 在日常英语中，人们一般说start，而不说beginThe movie starts at 7.45. 电影7点45分开始。Let’s start by introducing ourselves. 我们首先自我介绍吧。Not many English names start with X. 以X开头的英语名字不多。5 speech 话语 [intransitive, transitive] to start speaking 开始（说话） ‘Ladies and gentlemen, ’ he began. ‘I am delighted to be here.’ “女士们，先生们，”他开始发言说，“我很高兴来到这里。”6 to begin with a) spoken used to introduce the first and most important point you want to make 首先〔用于引出首先想说的、最重要的内容〕 Well, to begin with, he shouldn’t even have been driving my car. 好吧，首先他本来就不应该开我的车。 b) NOWused to say that something was already in a particular condition before something else happened 原来 I didn’t break it! It was like that to begin with. 不是我弄坏的！它原来就是这样的。 c) FIRSTduring the first part of a process or activity 起初，开始的时候 The kids helped me to begin with, but they soon got bored. 开始时孩子们都来帮忙，但他们很快就厌烦了。7 can’t begin to understand/imagine etc spokenDIFFICULT used to emphasize how difficult something is to understand etc 根本无法理解/想象等8 begin (something) as something phrasal verb to be a particular thing at the start of your existence, working life etc 〔指生活、工作等〕从…开始，从…做起n GrammarBegin belongs to a group of verbs where the same noun can be the subject of the verb or its object. • You can say: They began the meeting at 9. In this sentence, ‘the meeting’ is the object of begin.• You can also say: The meeting began at 9. In this sentence, ‘the meeting’ is the subject of begin.5 FREQUENCY 使用频率
Examples from the Corpus
begin• Once the children were quiet, the teacher began.• Casting for the play will begin next week.• Several new businesses began operating during the year and are already trading profitably.• The audience suddenly began shouting and cheering.• And when he begins that breathing, he automatically feels calm and in control.• They began their holiday in Italy, and then went on to Greece.• Peter came in and began to chat me up.• More and more people are beginning to do their shopping on-line.• As the meat begins to firm from cooking, it will be less likely to stick to the grill.• "What do you mean?" she said, beginning to laugh.• I held the stare until my eyes began to water.begin to do something• Manshin Anjima stretched her arms above her head, then began to braid her sparse hair.• In therapy he began to examine carefully the reasons for his previous passivity.• You will begin to feel bewildered and lost, probably frightened, too.• Scott also began to form a few close relationships with other kids at school.• She had just about finished, when she began to make out footsteps approaching from deeper in the maze of drums.• People began to meet in their homes.• I put my foot down and the car began to move forward.• After two weeks, I began to realize that she wasn't coming back.• Only in the past two decades have educators and policy-makers begun to reexamine these assumptions seriously.begin at• The funeral service will begin at 3 p.m.begin with• The book begins with a letter from Barbara Bush.• Shall we begin with a prayer?Origin begin Old English beginnanbe·gin verb →n GRAMMAR1 →REGISTER1
→5 FREQUENCY1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
→5 FREQUENCY1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
to start doing Corpus something
Begin
Be‧gin, Me‧na‧chem /ˈbeɪɡɪn, məˈnɑːkəm/
(1913–92) an Israeli politician and Prime Minister from 1977 to 1983. In 1979 he signed a peace treaty with President Sadat of Egypt which was known as the Camp David agreement.
Be‧gin, Me‧na‧chem /ˈbeɪɡɪn, məˈnɑːkəm/
(1913–92) an Israeli politician and Prime Minister from 1977 to 1983. In 1979 he signed a peace treaty with President Sadat of Egypt which was known as the Camp David agreement.
begin
be‧gin S1 W1 /bɪˈɡɪn/ verb (past tense began /-ˈɡæn/, past participle begun /-ˈɡʌn/, present participle beginning)
As everybody’s here, let’s begin.
In the third year students begin the study of classical Chinese.
The president begins talks with the prime minister tonight.
begin to do something
She began to feel a sense of panic.
begin doing something
I began teaching in 1984.
2. START HAPPENING [intransitive and transitive] if something begins, or you begin something, it starts to happen or exist from a particular time:
It was the coldest winter since records began.
begin at
The meeting begins at 10.30 am.
3. DO FIRST [intransitive] if you begin with something or begin by doing something, this is the first thing you do
begin with
Shall we begin with a prayer?
begin by doing something
I’ll begin by thanking you all for being here tonight.
4. BOOK/WORD ETC [intransitive] if a book, film, or word begins with something, it starts with a particular event or letter
begin with
‘Psychosis’ begins with a P.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say start rather than begin:
▪The movie starts at 7.45.
▪Let’s start by introducing ourselves.
▪Not many English names start with X.
5. SPEECH [intransitive and transitive] to start speaking:
‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ he began. ‘I am delighted to be here.’
6. to begin with
a. spoken used to introduce the first and most important point you want to make:
Well, to begin with, he shouldn’t even have been driving my car.
b. used to say that something was already in a particular condition before something else happened:
I didn’t break it! It was like that to begin with.
c. during the first part of a process or activity:
The kids helped me to begin with, but they soon got bored.
7. can’t begin to understand/imagine etc spoken used to emphasize how difficult something is to understand etc:
I can’t begin to imagine how awful it was.
begin (something) as something phrasal verb
to be a particular thing at the start of your existence, working life etc:
Roger began his career as an office boy.
be‧gin S1 W1 /bɪˈɡɪn/
verb (past tense began /-ˈɡæn/, past participle begun /-ˈɡʌn/, present participle beginning) Language: Old English
Origin: beginnan
1. START DOING SOMETHING [intransitive and transitive] to start doing something:Origin: beginnan
begin to do something
begin doing something
2. START HAPPENING [intransitive and transitive] if something begins, or you begin something, it starts to happen or exist from a particular time:
begin at
3. DO FIRST [intransitive] if you begin with something or begin by doing something, this is the first thing you do
begin with
begin by doing something
4. BOOK/WORD ETC [intransitive] if a book, film, or word begins with something, it starts with a particular event or letter
begin with
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say start rather than begin:
▪
▪
▪
5. SPEECH [intransitive and transitive] to start speaking:
6. to begin with
a. spoken used to introduce the first and most important point you want to make:
b. used to say that something was already in a particular condition before something else happened:
c. during the first part of a process or activity:
7. can’t begin to understand/imagine etc spoken used to emphasize how difficult something is to understand etc:
begin (something) as something phrasal verb
to be a particular thing at the start of your existence, working life etc:
start to begin to happen or exist; to begin in a particular way or from a particular point 指开始发生或存在、以…开始、以…为起点 ：◆ 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 指开始发生或存在、以…开始、以…为起点、开始讲话 ：◆ When does the concert begin? 音乐会什么时候开始？
start or begin? 用 start 还是 begin？
start off ( to start happening or doing sth; to start by doing or being sthrather
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 ( 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 ( 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/movie or a book) to start, especially in a particular way 指以…开始（活动）、（活动、电影或书）以…开头／开篇 ：◆ The story opens with a murder. 故事以一宗谋杀案作序幕。
Patterns
to start/begin/start off/kick off/commence/open with sthto start/begin/start off/kick off/commence/open by doing sthto start/begin/start off/commence as stha campaign/season/meeting starts/begins/starts off/kicks off/commences/opensa film/movie/book starts/begins/starts off/opens
Ordering 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。
There is not much difference in meaning between begin andstart , thoughstart 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 is often used when you are describing a series of events.* begin 常用以指一系列事情的开始 ：◆ The story begins on the island of Corfu. 故事从科孚岛上开始。 Start , but notbegin , can also mean 'to start a journey', 'to start something happening' or 'to start a machine working'.* 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 afterbegin andstart , 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 andstarting , 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.
