Onyomi: ショ · Kunyomi: -そ.める, -ぞ.め, うい-, はじ.め, はじ.めて, はつ, はつ- · Meanings: beginning, first time
Kanji for beginning, first time
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Find visually similar kanji, commonly confused characters, related meanings, and useful words connected to 初.
初 is formed from 扌, the hand radical on the left, and 刀 on the right. The hand radical relates to action or doing something, while 刀 represents cutting or starting an action. Together, they express the idea of beginning an action or first attempt. From this idea, 初 came to mean first, beginning, or initial.
初 shows starting an action, meaning first or beginning.
初 is used when referring to the beginning of something or the first time it happens. It represents the start or initial stage of an action or event. Remember 初 as meaning “first” or “beginning.”
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 初 | はつ | first, new | common JLPT-N1 Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', Noun, Noun, used as a prefix, Noun, used as a suffix |
| ウブ | ウブ | inexperienced (in life experience), unsophisticated, green, wet behind the ears | Na-adjective (keiyodoshi), Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', Noun |
| 初め | ぞめ | first doing of ... (ever, in one's life, in the new year, etc.) | Suffix |
| 始め | はじめ | beginning, start, outset, opening | common JLPT-N1 JLPT-N5 Noun, Adverb (fukushi) |
| 初めて | はじめて | for the first time | common JLPT-N5 Adverb (fukushi), Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 始まり | はじまり | origin, beginning, start | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 初級 | しょきゅう | elementary level, beginner level | common JLPT-N2 Noun, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 初版 | しょはん | first edition | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 初耳 | はつみみ | something heard for the first time, hearing something for the first time | JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 初恋 | はつこい | first love, puppy love | common Noun |