始 [shǐ]

• 名词
  • （最初; 起头） beginning; start:

    from beginning to end; from start to finish;

    自始至终

    At first I didn't catch on, then I suddenly saw the light.

    始而不解， 继而恍然。

  • （姓氏） a surname:

    Shi Cheng

    始成

• 动词
  • （开始） start; begin:
  • （开始） start; begin:

    not know exactly when this came into being;

    不知始于何时

    A thousand-li journey begins with the first step.

    千里之行，始于足下。

• 副词
  • （才） only then; not ... until:
  • （才） only then; not ... until:

    Steady progress can only be the result of persistent study.; Only persistent study yields steady progress.

    坚持学习，始能不断进步。

    Traffic cannot pass through the square until the mass meeting is over.

    群众大会结束后， 广场始能通行。