Proverb / Kotowaza
始め半分
Starting something is the most important part; once you begin, it is as good as half finished.
The beginning is half
Quick Answer
Starting something is the most important part; once you begin, it is as good as half finished.
- Literal Image
- The beginning is half
- Closest Equivalent
- Well begun is half done.
- How to Use It
- Used to encourage someone to take the first step or to describe how a task became much easier once it was finally underway.
Meaning
This proverb emphasizes that the initial step of any endeavor is the most significant. Because the psychological hurdle and the difficulty of starting are the greatest obstacles, once you actually begin, the momentum helps carry the project toward completion, making it feel like half the work is already done.
Literal Image
The beginning is half
Equivalent Proverbs
Well begun is half done.
Direct conceptual and structural match.
How to Use It
Used to encourage someone to take the first step or to describe how a task became much easier once it was finally underway.
Tone
Encouraging and reassuring.
Examples
論文が書けないと悩んでいたが、書き始めたら意外とはかどった。始め半分とはよく言ったものだ。
I was worried that I couldn't write my thesis, but once I started, it went surprisingly well. It's true what they say: starting is half the battle.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses basic kanji and vocabulary (start, half), but the idiomatic meaning requires understanding the nuance of momentum.
始め
はじめ / hajime
beginning / start
半分
はんぶん / hanbun
half
Usage Profile
Usage note: Be careful not to misinterpret this as actual physical progress.
Misread Risk
Do not interpret this as a literal measure of progress; starting does not mean 50% of the labor is physically complete.
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Origin
This proverb is born from the experience that beginning a task is the most difficult stage. Once a person overcomes the psychological resistance to starting, they gain momentum (hazumi), which makes the subsequent work much easier. It teaches the importance of overcoming the initial hurdle of taking action.
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