Collins Chinese Dictionary Plus (3rd edition), 2011:
begin [bɪˈgɪn]
pt
(pp began)begun
I vt
开(開)始 kāishǐ
- He had begun his career as a painter.
他开(開)始了他的画(畫)家生涯。 Tā kāishǐle tā de huàjiā shēngyá.
II vi
开(開)始 kāishǐ
- The concert begins at 5 p.m.
音乐(樂)会(會)下午5点(點)开(開)始。 Yīnyuèhuì xiàwǔ wǔ diǎn kāishǐ.
- to begin doing or to do sth
开(開)始做某事 kāishǐ zuò mǒushì
- I can't begin to thank you
我真不知道怎样(樣)感谢(謝)你 wǒ zhēn bù zhīdào zěnyàng gǎnxiè nǐ
- beginning (from) Monday
(从(從))星期一开(開)始 (cóng)xīngqīyī kāishǐ
- to begin with …
首先… shǒuxiān… - To begin with, I was sceptical, but I was soon convinced.
起初我持怀(懷)疑态(態)度,但很快就相信了。 Qǐchū wǒ chí huáiyí tàidu,dàn hěn kuài jiù xiāngxìn le. - You should invite your closest friends to begin with, and then see if there's room for anybody else.
你首先应(應)该(該)邀请(請)最亲(親)近的朋友,然后(後)再看是否有位置给(給)其他人。 Nǐ shǒuxiān yīnggāi yāoqǐng zuì qīnjìn de péngyou,ránhòu zài kàn shìfǒu yǒu wèizhi gěi qítā rén.
begin 、start 和 commence 的意思相同,但 begin 比 start 稍正式一些,而 commence 则很正式,并且通常不用于口语。The meeting is about to begin…He tore the list up and started a fresh one…The academic year commences at the beginning of October. 当谈及起动车辆和机器时用 start 。 I couldn't start the car. 当谈及创办一项业务或其他组织时,也要用 start 。He's started his own printing business. 注意 begin 、start 和 commence 后面都可以跟动词的-ing 形式或名词,但只有 begin 和 start 可以跟由 to 引导的不定式。