Ichidan verb, Transitive verb
to start; to begin; to commence; to initiate; to originate
いつゴルフを始めたのですか。When did you begin playing golf? to start up (a business, society, etc.); to open (e.g. a store); to establish
Auxiliary verb, Ichidan verb
to start ...; to begin to ...
after the -masu stem of a verb
Also written 創める【はじめる】