Correct
起初 vs 开始
/ qǐchū vs kāishǐ /
Strokes
Formula
1
2
3
起初（开始）的时候 (in the beginning)
4
起初（开始）的安排 (former/initial arrangement)
Definition
起初 as a Noun, 开始 as a Verb or Noun, which both means [in the beginning; at first; begin; start; beginning].
Example
起初 is a Noun meaning "the beginning stage", often in contrast to 以后 or 现在. 开始 is a verb as well as a Noun. As a Noun, its usage is similar to that of 起初, the two words are interchangeable.
1
Qǐchū
起初
(
kāishǐ
开始
)
tā
他
duì
对
fǎyǔ
法语
bù
不
gǎn
感
xìngqù
兴趣
,
hòulái
后来
yīnwèi
因为
gōngzuò
工作
xūyào
需要
cái
才
mànmàn
慢慢
de
地
xué
学
le
了
qǐlai
起来
。
He was not interested in French in the beginning, but later he began to pick it up because his work can't do without it.
2
Xiànzài
现在
nǐ
你
hòuhuǐ
后悔
le
了
,
qǐchū
起初
(
kāishǐ
开始
)
nǐ
你
zěnme
怎么
bù
不
tīng
听
wǒ
我
quàn
劝
ne
呢
?
Now you regret, why not follow my advice in the beginning?
开始 as the Noun, however, can be modified by an attributive (usually followed by 的), while 起初 cannot.
3
Cóng
从
xuéqī
学期
de
的
kāishǐ
开始
,
tā
他
jiù
就
zhuājǐn
抓紧
shíjiān
时间
,
xuéhǎo
学好
gè
各
mén
门
kèchéng
课程
。
At the beginning of this term, he made the best of his time to study all his courses hard.
4
Zài
在
yī
一
nián
年
de
的
kāishǐ
开始
,
wǒmen
我们
yīnggāi
应该
yǒu
有
yī
一
gè
个
niándù
年度
jìhuà
计划
。
At the beginning of a year, we'd better make a one-year plan.
5
Nǐ
你
huàn
换
le
了
gōngzuò
工作
,
zhè
这
shì
是
yī
一
gè
个
xīn
新
de
的
kāishǐ
开始
,
yīnggāi
应该
yǒu
有
xīn
新
de
的
miànmào
面貌
。
Since you changed your job, I think it is a new start and you should change you, too.
起初 and 开始 both can modify a Noun.
起初（开始）的时候 (in the beginning)
起初（开始）的安排 (former/initial arrangement)
6
Qǐchū
起初
(
kāishǐ
开始
)
de
的
shíhou
时候
,
tā
他
bù
不
xǐhuan
喜欢
chī
吃
zhōngguó
中国
cài
菜
,
xiànzài
现在
hěn
很
xǐhuan
喜欢
。
At first, he didn't like to eat Chinese food, and now he loves it.
7
Tāmen
他们
qǐchū
起初
(
kāishǐ
开始
)
de
的
ānpái
安排
shì
是
dá
打
lánqiú
篮球
,
hòulái
后来
gǎi
改
chéng
成
le
了
yóuyǒng
游泳
。
They started out playing basketball, which was later changed to swimming.
开始 as the Verb, it cannot be replaced by 起初.
8
Hánjià
寒假
jiéshù
结束
le
了
,
xīn
新
xuéqī
学期
cóng
从
jīntiān
今天
jiù
就
kāishǐ
开始
le
了
。
The winter holidays are over, and today's the beginning of the second semester.
9
Tā
他
yī
一
kāishǐ
开始
jiù
就
xǐhuan
喜欢
shàng
上
zhège
这个
dìfāng
地方
le
了
。
He liked the place in the very beginning.
10
Rén
人
lái
来
qí
齐
le
了
,
wǒmen
我们
kāishǐ
开始
zuòtán
座谈
bā
吧
!
Since everyone is here, let's start discussing now.
11
Xiànzài
现在
kāishǐ
开始
jiǎng
讲
xīn
新
kè
课
。
Today we'll learn a new lesson.