Japanese Conversation · Level 19
90 words
Japanese word
初めて
Pronunciation
Romajihajimete
Meaning
- adverbfor the first time
Example
初めて日本に行きます。haji me te nihon ni i ki ma su
I am going to Japan for the first time.
More examples
初めて料理を作りました。haji me te ryō ri o tsuku ri ma shi ta
I cooked for the first time.
Core concept
It marks an event as the first occurrence in someone's experience, rather than simply a recent event.
Common phrases
初めて会うhaji me te a u
meet for the first time
初めて見るhaji me te mi ru
see for the first time
初めて聞くhaji me te ki ku
hear for the first time
Definition in Japanese
これまで経験したことがなく、今回が最初の経験となるさま。ko re ma de kei ken shi ta ko to ga na ku kon kai ga sai sho no kei ken to na ru sa ma
Word origin
As a native Japanese formation, 初めて (hajimete) combines 初め (hajime, "beginning") with て (te), giving the idea of an action at its beginning.
Usage tips
- 初めて (hajimete) comes before a verb, while 初めての (hajimete no) comes before a noun, as in 初めての旅行 (hajimete no ryokō).