Meaning and Usage
The word '시작' means 'the beginning' or 'start' of something. It is a noun commonly used in everyday conversation to indicate the point in time when an event, action, or process begins.
Common Contexts
You will often hear '시작' when talking about the start of classes, meetings, projects, or any scheduled activity. It can also be used metaphorically, such as in the proverb '시작이 반이다' which encourages taking the first step.
Collocations and Patterns
- 시작하다: to start (verb form derived from '시작')
- 시작 시간: start time
- 시작점: starting point
- 시작부터: from the start
Register and Politeness
'시작' is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. When combined with verbs like '하다', it forms the verb '시작하다', which is very common.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '시작' with '끝' (end). Remember, '시작' always refers to the beginning phase. Also, '시작' is a noun, so to express 'to start', use '시작하다'.