Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
“It’s no use doing X,” “There’s no point in X,” or “X won’t help (start) anything.”
🎯 Primary Function
To express futility or lack of productivity, often urging a change in action or attitude.
📋 Grammar Structure
V-て form + も始まらない
い-adjective stem + くて + も始まらない
な-adjective stem + で + も始まらない (or Noun + で + も始まらない)
V-stem + ないで + も始まらない (rarely used; standard focus is on V-て)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in business or official settings when offering firm advice or expressing the need for a change in strategy.
Informal Situations
Very common in daily conversation, particularly when advising friends or venting frustration.
Written Language
Appears in essays, editorials, self-help books, and dialogues in novels.
Spoken Language
Highly frequent in spoken Japanese as a natural way to express “it’s pointless.”
💡 Common Applications
Expressing the futility of regret or worry.
Used to advise someone that dwelling on past mistakes or worries is unproductive and they should focus on the future.
Example: 後悔していても始まらない。前を向こう。(Kōkai shite ite mo hajimaranaide. Mae o mukō.)
Urging the listener to take constructive action rather than complain or remain passive.
Highlights that passive activities like complaining or waiting will not lead to a positive resolution.
Example: 愚痴ばかり言っていても始まらない。行動を起こすべきだ。(Guchi bakari itte ite mo hajimaranaide. Kōdō o okosu beki da.)
Stating that a certain condition is insufficient or incomplete for success.
Indicates that the preceding condition (even a perfect plan) is useless without the following necessary action.
Example: 計画が完璧でも、実行しなければ始まらない。(Keikaku ga kanpeki demo, jikkō shinakereba hajimaranaide.)
Frequency
Medium-High (Common in advice and expressive conversation)
Difficulty
JLPT N3 / Early N2
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
こぼしたミルクについて泣いていても始まらない。次のステップを考えよう。
Furigana: こぼしたミルクについて泣いていても始まらない。次(つぎ)のステップを考(かんが)えよう。
Romaji: Koboshita miruku ni tsuite naite ite mo hajimaranaide. Tsugi no suteppu o kangaeyō.
English: Crying over spilled milk won’t help now. Let’s think about the next step.
Example #2
お金のことで悩んでいても始まらない。バイトを見つけないと。
Furigana: お金(かね)のことで悩(なや)んでいても始まらない。バイトを見(み)つけないと。
Romaji: Okane no koto de nayande ite mo hajimaranaide. Baito o mitsukenai to.
English: Just worrying about money won’t solve anything. We need to find a part-time job.
Example #3
給料が安いと愚痴を言っていても始まらないよ。交渉しなきゃ。
Furigana: 給料(きゅうりょう)が安(やす)いと愚痴(ぐち)を言(い)っていても始まらないよ。交渉(こうしょう)しなきゃ。
Romaji: Kyūryō ga yasui to guchi o itte ite mo hajimaranaide yo. Kōshō shinakya.
English: Complaining about the low salary won’t increase it. You need to negotiate.
Example #4
振られたことで悲しんでいるだけでは始まらない。前を向こう。
Furigana: 振(ふ)られたことで悲(かな)しんでいるだけでは始まらない。前(まえ)を向(む)こう。
Romaji: Furareta koto de kanashinde iru dake de wa hajimaranaide. Mae o mukō.
English: If you’re only sad about the breakup, you won’t be able to move forward.
Example #5
どんなに忙しくても、健康を無視していては始まらない。
Furigana: どんなに忙(いそが)しくても、健康(けんこう)を無視(むし)していては始まらない。
Romaji: Donna ni isogashikute mo, kenkō o mushi shite ite wa hajimaranaide.
English: No matter how busy you are, neglecting your health is useless.
Example #6
今さら後悔していても始まらない。未来に集中すべきだ。
Furigana: 今(いま)さら後悔(こうかい)していても始まらない。未来(みらい)に集中(しゅうちゅう)すべきだ。
Romaji: Imasara kōkai shite ite mo hajimaranaide. Mirai ni shūchū subeki da.
English: Even if you regret the past now, nothing will change. We should focus on the future.
Example #7
システムを批判しているだけでは始まらない。代案を提出しなさい。
Furigana: システムを批判(ひはん)しているだけでは始まらない。代案(だいあん)を提出(ていしゅつ)しなさい。
Romaji: Shisutemu o hihan shite iru dake de wa hajimaranaide. Daian o teishutsu shinasai.
English: Just criticizing the system won’t improve it. You must propose alternatives.
Example #8
行動しなければ、目標を設定しても始まらない。
Furigana: 行動(こうどう)しなければ、目標(もくひょう)を設定(せってい)しても始まらない。
Romaji: Kōdō shinakereba, mokuhyō o settei shite mo hajimaranaide.
English: If you don’t take action, merely setting a goal is pointless.
Example #9
電車はもう出たから、今から追いかけても始まらないよ。
Furigana: 電車(でんしゃ)はもう出(で)たから、今(いま)から追(お)いかけても始まらないよ。
Romaji: Densha wa mō deta kara, ima kara oikakete mo hajimaranaide yo.
English: Since the train has already left, running after it is useless.
Example #10
ビジネスでただ安いだけでは始まらない。品質が必要だ。
Furigana: ビジネスでただ安(やす)いだけでは始まらない。品質(ひんしつ)が必要(ひつよう)だ。
Romaji: Bijinesu de tada yasui dake de wa hajimaranaide. Hinshitsu ga hitsuyō da.
English: Being just “cheap” (negative nuance) in business won’t bring success. We need quality.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Implies Necessity of Action
This pattern usually implies that *some other* constructive action is required or necessary instead of the current unproductive one. It suggests a need for progress.
Example: 愚痴(ぐち)を言い(い)っていても始まらない。(Guchi o itte ite mo hajimaranaide.)
Focus on ‘Starting’ or ‘Progress’
The emphasis is on 始まらない (hajimaranai), meaning that the current effort (or lack thereof) is insufficient to *start* the process of resolution or success.
Example: 計画(けいかく)だけでは始まらない。(Keikaku dake de wa hajimaranaide.)
Can Follow Adjective/State Forms
While most commonly attached to verbs (V-te form), it can also follow adjective-derived phrases, particularly when stating that a necessary condition is missing.
Example: お金(かね)がなくても始まらない。(Okane ga nakute mo hajimaranaide.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ 後悔するも始まらない (*Kōkai suru mo hajimaranaide)
✅ V-て + も始まらない (V-te mo hajimaranaide)
The pattern requires the V-te form followed by the particle も. Using the dictionary form (e.g., *始める) is incorrect.
❌ ご飯を食べても始まらない (*Gohan o tabete mo hajimaranaide)
✅ It is primarily used with actions or states that represent dwelling or inaction (e.g., 悩んでいる, 泣いている).
While grammatically possible with other verbs, it is most naturally used when expressing the uselessness of a continuous, passive, or unproductive state.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral to Slightly Informal. When used as advice, it can be slightly direct, but the base structure is grammatically neutral. Adding a polite ending like です/ます is rare.
Social Situations: Most often used when someone needs a push to move on from regret, sadness, or passive complaint. It serves as a strong piece of advice.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese. No significant regional variations in the structure itself, though the preceding action might vary.
🔍 Subtle Differences
〜ても始まらない vs. 〜ても仕方がない
仕方がない expresses general inevitability or resignation (“It can’t be helped”). 始まらない expresses futility in relation to the start of a solution or progress (“It’s useless/pointless for *starting* the process”).
When to use: Use 始まらない when you want to encourage the listener to stop the useless action and start a useful one. Use 仕方がない when accepting a negative situation you cannot change.
〜ても始まらない vs. 〜ても無駄だ
無駄だ (muda da) simply means “it is wasteful” or “in vain.” 始まらない specifically suggests the action is stalling progress or failing to initiate a solution.
When to use: Use 無駄だ for a general assessment of wastefulness (e.g., waste of time/money). Use 始まらない for unproductive emotional states or repetitive, non-constructive actions.
📝 Conjugation Notes
The expression always uses the negative form of the verb 始まる (hajimaru), meaning “to begin” or “to start.” The structure itself is fixed after the V-te form of the preceding clause.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
The particle も is important and should be clearly articulated. 始まらない (hajimaranai) has the standard ‘na-i’ negative ending.
🧠 Memory Tips
Remember the literal meaning: “Even if you do X, it won’t start.” This helps link the idea of futility to the lack of progress or beginning caused by the action X. Think: “X is a dead end.”
Other Grammar
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