起 点(きてん)

きてん

noun

starting point, point of origin

1. starting point, point of origin

The point from which something begins, whether a physical route, a process, or an abstract development.

ここが旅(たび)の起点(きてん)だ。

This is the starting point of the journey.

東京駅(とうきょうえき)を起点(きてん)にして全国(ぜんこく)に広(ひろ)がる。

It spreads across the country with Tokyo Station as its starting point.

この事件(じけん)が社会(しゃかい)変革(へんかく)の起点(きてん)となった。

This incident became the starting point of social reform.

起点(きてん) is composed of 起(き) (rise, start) + 点(てん) (point).

Common patterns

〜を起点(きてん)にする: to use ~ as a starting point
〜を起点(きてん)として: starting from ~
〜が起点(きてん)となる: to become the starting point

Common collocations

出発(しゅっぱつ)の起点(きてん): starting point of departure
起点(きてん)から終点(しゅうてん)まで: from start to finish

Similar words: 出発点(しゅっぱつてん) is a close synonym but more commonly used for journeys and metaphorical beginnings. 起点(きてん) is more formal and often used for routes, systems, and historical developments.

Related Words

Antonym: 終点(しゅうてん) (end point)

Synonym: 出発点(しゅっぱつてん) (starting point (journeys))

Compare: 始点(してん) (starting point)

Compare: 始発駅(しはつえき) (starting station)

general

Added 2026.3.11 19:30 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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