Breakdown of kaigi ha zyuuzi ni hazimarimasu.
はha
topic particle
にni
time particle
始まるhazimaru
to start
会議kaigi
meeting
十時zyuuzi
ten o’clock
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Questions & Answers about kaigi ha zyuuzi ni hazimarimasu.
What does the particle は indicate in 会議は十時に始まります? Why not が?
は marks the topic (“as for the meeting”) and frames what follows as information about it. Using が (会議が十時に始まります) instead would mark 会議 as the subject introducing new information. Both are grammatically correct, but は often signals known or assumed context, shifting emphasis to the time.
How is 会議 pronounced, and what reading is used?
It’s pronounced かいぎ (kaigi). In compounds, kanji generally use their on’yomi (Sino-Japanese readings): 会 (かい) + 議 (ぎ).
Why is に used after 十時, and can it be omitted?
に marks a specific point in time, so 十時に means “at 10 o’clock.” You generally cannot omit に with precise clock times in polite/formal speech. In casual speech some time expressions drop に, but clock-time phrases normally keep it.
What is the dictionary form of 始まります, and is it transitive or intransitive?
The dictionary form is 始まる (hajimaru), an intransitive verb meaning “to begin (by itself).” The transitive form “to start something” is 始める (hajimeru), as in 会議を始める.
How would you say “The meeting started at 10”?
Use the polite past tense: 会議は十時に始まりました.
How would you say “We will start the meeting at 10”?
Use the transitive verb with a subject: 私たちは十時に会議を始めます. You can also omit 私たちは: 十時に会議を始めます.