begin
verb [ I or T ] uk/bɪˈɡɪn/ us/bɪˈɡɪn/ beginning | began | begun
(START TO HAPPEN)
A1 开始;开始进行（或存在）
to start to happen or exist
What time does the concert begin? 音乐会什么时候开始？
The bridge was begun five years ago and the estimated cost has already doubled. 这座桥5年前开始建造，到现在为止估计成本已经翻了一番。
The film they want to watch begins at seven. 他们要看的电影7点开场。
The meeting began promisingly, but then things started to go wrong. 会议开场很不错，可后来出了问题。
- More examples
- The plane began to make its final descent into the airport.
- Stir the sauce gently until it begins to boil.
(START TO DO)
A2 着手（于）
to start to do something
I began the book six months ago, but I can't seem to finish it. 我6个月前就开始读这本书，但似乎总也读不完。
[ + -ing verb ] Jane has just begun learning to drive. 珍妮刚开始学开车。
If you want to learn to play a musical instrument, it might be a good idea to begin on something simple. 如果你想学一种乐器，从简单的开始或许是个好主意。
[ + to infinitive ] After waiting for half an hour she was beginning to get angry. 等了半小时后，她开始生气了。
I have so much to tell you, I don't know where to begin. 我有很多话要跟你说，不知从何谈起。
- More examples
- The audience was becoming restless as they waited for the performance to begin.
- You will begin to feel sleepy as the drug enters your bloodstream.
- She cleared her throat nervously before she began to speak.
(START SPEAKING)
开始说话
to start speaking
[ + speech ] "Well," he began. "I don't quite know how to tell you this." “唉，”他开始说，“这事我真是不知道该怎么样跟你说。”
(FIRST PART)
以…开始;以…开头
to have something as the first part
The word "cat" begins with the letter "c". 单词 cat 以字母 c 开头。
Idioms
to begin withidiom B1 原先，刚开始时
at the start of a process, event, or situation
There were six of us to begin with, then two people left. 原先，我们有6个人，后来走了两个。
B2 首先，第一
used to give the first important reason for something
The hotel was awful! To begin with, our room was far too small. 这家旅馆太差了！首先是我们的房间太小。
can't (even) beginidiom 难以着手
If you can't (even) begin to do something, it is very difficult for you to do it.
As a wealthy businessman, he couldn't even begin to imagine real poverty. 作为一个富裕的商人，他难以想象真正的贫穷是什么样子。