Recognise 初 in words such as 初めて and 最初. Learn the whole word together with its reading and meaning.

The idea

Read 初めて as はじめて and 最初 as さいしょ. 初 has 7 strokes; use the linked KanjiVG diagram to follow their order. Many kanji have Japanese-origin readings (kun) and readings borrowed through Chinese (on); learn each with its word. N3 is an approximate learning level, not an official JLPT kanji list.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
初めてはじめてfor the first time
最初さいしょthe beginning; first
初日しょにちthe first day

Examples

  • 初はじめて、京都きょうとに行いきました。I went to Kyoto for the first time.
  • 初はじめて、すしを作つくりました。I made sushi for the first time.
  • 最初さいしょに、名前なまえを書かいてください。First, please write your name.
  • 最初さいしょの質問しつもんは簡単かんたんでした。The first question was easy.
  • 旅行りょこうの初日しょにちは雨あめでした。It rained on the first day of the trip.
  • 初日しょにちから仕事しごとが忙いそがしかったです。Work was busy from the first day.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

初めて refers to a first experience; 始める means to start an action. Compare the shapes of 初 and 切; they are different characters.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 初めて in hiragana.

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    はじめて

    初めて is read はじめて; it means for the first time.

  2. Write the reading of 最初 in hiragana.

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    さいしょ

    最初 is read さいしょ; it means the beginning; first.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿日（しょにち）.

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    初

    初 completes 初日, read しょにち; it means the first day.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 初 from memory, and read 初めて and 最初 aloud. Then use one in a sentence.