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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
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-31T05:00:27.137
40521
2016-10-31T06:28:20.293
2016-10-31T06:28:20.293
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question
words transitivity
Can someone help explain the difference between Hajimeru and Hajimaru?
* 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.
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2016-10-31T05:15:12.580
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2016-10-31T05:15:12.580
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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answer
In a nutshell, both _hajimeru_ and _hajimaru_ mean "to start".

More specifically, _hajim **e** ru_ is transitive -- "to start _something_ ".
Meanwhile, _hajim **a** ru_ is intransitive -- it cannot take an object, so "
_something_ starts (on its own)".

There are several verb pairs like this, all with _-m **e** ru_ / _-m **a** ru_
endings: _hirom **e** ru_ "to widen something" vs. _hirom **a** ru_ "something
widens (on its own)"; _katam **e** ru_ "to harden something" vs. _katam **a**
ru_ "something hardens on its own"; _osam **e** ru_ "to quell something, to
put something under control" vs. _osam **a** ru_ "something quells, something
becomes under control", etc. etc.
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2016-10-31T05:17:56.257
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2016-10-31T05:17:56.257
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answer
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.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-31T05:19:14.860
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2016-10-31T06:11:55.280
2016-10-31T06:11:55.280
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answer