始まる vs 始める

whats the difference between the 2?

One is transitive, the other intransitive.

始める is transitive and is used when you, or someone else, starts something: “I started to study Japanese.”

始まる is used when something starts “by itself”. “The class has already started.”

There are lots of pairs of verbs like this in Japanese.

Hope this helps

— Dave

7 Likes

See https://bunpro.jp/grammar_points/transitive-intransitive-verbs

1 Like