Can someone help explain the difference between Hajimeru and Hajimaru? [duplicate]

Question

What is the difference between 始める{はじめる} (hajimeru) and 始まる{はじまる} (hajimaru)?

Would appreciate some advice on this.

Thanks

Answer 1

In a nutshell, both hajimeru and hajimaru mean "to start".

More specifically, hajimeru is transitive -- "to start something". Meanwhile, hajimaru is intransitive -- it cannot take an object, so "something starts (on its own)".

There are several verb pairs like this, all with -meru / -maru endings: hiromeru "to widen something" vs. hiromaru "something widens (on its own)"; katameru "to harden something" vs. katamaru "something hardens on its own"; osameru "to quell something, to put something under control" vs. osamaru "something quells, something becomes under control", etc. etc.

Answer 2

• 始める : transitive

  会議を始めましょう! Let's start the meeting!

• 始まる : intransitive

  会議が始まりました。The meeting has begun.

Answer 3

One is transitive (has an object), the other one is intransitive (doesn't have an object).

• 始める - to begin (something)
• 始まる - to begin

今日新しいダイエットを始めた。
- I started a new diet today.

新しいダイエットは今日から始まる。
- My new diet starts today.