Translation guide
Expresses the idea of beginning again, often after a failure, break, or fresh start. Japanese uses verbs, set phrases, and idiomatic expressions to convey restarting, turning over a new leaf, or making a fresh start.
To express turning over a new leaf, reforming oneself, or starting life over.
A four-character compound meaning 'turning over a new leaf' or 'making a fresh start'. Often used with する or 図る.
心機一転、新しい仕事を始めた。
I turned over a new leaf and started a new job.
Literally 'to start over from scratch'. Implies going back to the beginning and trying again.
失敗したけど、一から出直すつもりだ。
I failed, but I intend to start over from scratch.
Means 'to make a fresh start' or 'to restart'. Often used for careers, life, or projects.
彼は離婚後、再出発した。
He made a fresh start after his divorce.
Literally 'to change one's heart'. Means to reform oneself or turn over a new leaf in behavior.
心を入れ替えて、真面目に勉強します。
I'll turn over a new leaf and study seriously.
To express beginning again after a pause, interruption, or failure.
A common verb meaning 'to redo' or 'to start over'. Used for tasks, work, or relationships.
最初からやり直しましょう。
Let's start over from the beginning.
Means 'to resume' or 'to restart' after a break. Suitable for meetings, events, or operations.
会議を再開します。
We will resume the meeting.
Literally 'to redo the partitioning'. Used figuratively for restarting a discussion, negotiation, or match from scratch.
交渉を仕切り直そう。
Let's restart the negotiations from scratch.
To express beginning a new stage in life, often with a sense of renewal.
A natural phrase meaning 'to make a new start'. Combines Japanese and loanword.
新天地で新たなスタートを切った。
I made a fresh start in a new place.
A common loanword phrase meaning 'restart' or 'fresh start'. Often used in casual contexts.
失敗を乗り越えて、再スタートだ。
Overcome the failure and it's a fresh start.
Literally 'to walk a second life'. Used for major life changes like retirement or career shifts.
定年後、第二の人生を歩み始めた。
After retirement, I started walking a second life.
やり直す implies redoing from the beginning, often because of a mistake. 再開する simply means resuming after a pause, without necessarily starting over.
Avoid directly translating 'starting anew' as 新しく始める. While grammatically correct, it sounds unnatural. Use the idiomatic expressions provided instead.