begin
/bɪˈgɪn/- with obj. perform or undergo the first part of (an action or activity)开始（行动或活动）：
Peter had just begun a life sentence for murder
彼得因谋杀被判终身监禁, 才刚刚开始服刑
Nadia began work on a new project
纳迪亚开始了新项目的工作
with infinitive or present participle it was beginning to snow天已开始下雪
no obj. she began by rewriting the syllabus.她从重拟课程大纲着手。
- no obj. come into being or have its starting point at a certain time or place开始存在（或出现、发生）：
a new era had begun
一个新时代开始了
the tale begins with a sickly youth, Robin
故事开始讲一个多病的年轻人, 名叫罗宾
the cycleway begins at Livingston village.
自行车道的起点在利文斯顿村庄。
- no obj.(of a person) hold a specified position or role before holding any other（人）（以某种职位）起步, 起家：
he began as a drummer.
他从鼓手干起。
- no obj.(of a thing) originate（事物）起源, 发源：
Watts Lake began as a marine inlet.
瓦茨湖当初是一个入海口。
- no obj.(begin with) have as a first element以…开始：
words beginning with a vowel.
以元音开头的单词。
- no obj.(begin on/upon) set to work at着手进行：
Picasso began on a great canvas.
毕加索动手在一大张油画布上忙起来。
- with direct speech start speaking by saying开始说：
'Smith, ' he began.
“史密斯,"他开始说道。
- no obj.(begin at) (of an article) cost at least (a specified amount)最低价格为, 起步价为：
rooms begin at $139.
客房最低价139美元。
- no obj., with infinitive with negative informal have some chance or likelihood of doing a specified thing〈非正式〉有可能：
circuitry that Karen could not begin to comprehend.
卡伦不可能搞懂的电路原理。
to begin with
- at first首先。
- used to introduce the first of several points［用来引导若干问题中的第一个］首先：
such a fate is unlikely to befall him: to begin with, his is a genuine talent.
这种命运不可能落到他身上：首先, 他是个真正的人才。