Translation guide
The idea of beginning again, often with a sense of renewal, a clean slate, or after a setback. Japanese expresses this through verbs for restarting, phrases about new beginnings, and set expressions for turning over a new leaf.
To begin again, often after a failure or pause, with a sense of renewal.
Literally 'to redo from one', meaning to start over from scratch. Very common and natural.
失敗したので、一からやり直します。
Since I failed, I'll start over from scratch.
A four-character compound meaning 'turning over a new leaf' or 'making a fresh start with renewed spirit'. Often used when changing jobs, moving, etc.
心機一転、新しい仕事を始めた。
I made a fresh start and began a new job.
Literally 're-departure', meaning a new start or fresh beginning. Slightly formal.
彼は再出発を決意した。
He decided to make a fresh start.
To start over, to make a fresh start, often after a pause or reset. Can be used in work or personal contexts.
話がまとまらなかったので、仕切り直しましょう。
The discussion didn't come together, so let's start over.
Literally 'return to a blank sheet', meaning to go back to square one or wipe the slate clean. Used when plans are scrapped.
計画を白紙に戻して考え直そう。
Let's go back to the drawing board and rethink the plan.
To start a new chapter in life, often with emotional weight.
A natural phrase meaning 'to make a new start'. Combines Japanese and English loanword.
新しい街で新たなスタートを切りたい。
I want to make a fresh start in a new town.
To start one's life over. Stronger nuance of rebuilding after major failure.
彼は人生をやり直すために海外へ行った。
He went abroad to start his life over.
A casual, common phrase meaning 'restart' or 'fresh start'. Often used in personal contexts.
離婚して、再スタートを切った。
After the divorce, I made a fresh start.
To forget past mistakes or conflicts and start over with a clean relationship.
Idiom meaning 'to let bygones be bygones', literally 'to wash away in water'. Very common for forgiving and starting fresh.
過去のことは水に流して、また友達になろう。
Let's let bygones be bygones and be friends again.
To pretend something never happened, to wipe the slate clean. Casual.
昨日の喧嘩はなかったことにしよう。
Let's forget about yesterday's fight and start afresh.
一からやり直す emphasizes starting completely from scratch, often with a sense of hard work. 再出発 is more about a new beginning or departure, and can be used in formal contexts like business or speeches.
事業に失敗して、一からやり直すことになった。
After the business failed, I had to start over from scratch.
新年度を迎え、再出発の時期です。
With the new fiscal year, it's time for a fresh start.
心機一転 is often used with verbs like 図る (はかる) or する, and commonly appears in contexts of changing environment: moving, changing jobs, or starting a new school. It carries a positive, determined nuance.