Japanese word

初日

Pronunciation

Romajishonichi

Meaning

  • nounfirst day

Example

仕事の初日は少し緊張しました。shi goto no sho nichi wa suko shi kin chō shi ma shi ta

I was a little nervous on my first day at work.

Illustration for 初日 (first day)

More examples

アルバイトの初日は、店のルールを覚えることから始まりました。a ru ba i to no sho nichi wa mise no rū ru o obo e ru ko to ka ra haji ma ri ma shi ta

On my first day at my part-time job, I started by learning the store rules.

Core concept

Marks the beginning of a period, activity, or event when its first day is important.

Common phrases

  • 初日の夜sho nichi no yoru

    the night of the first day

  • 初日を過ごすsho nichi o su go su

    spend the first day

  • 初日からsho nichi ka ra

    from the first day

Similar words

開始日kaishihi: The date when a period, activity, or event begins.
開幕日kaimakuhi: The first day of a public event, performance, or sports competition.

Definition in Japanese

仕事や学校、行事などが始まった最初の日。shi goto ya gak kō gyō ji na do ga haji ma tta sai sho no hi

Word origin

初日 (shonichi) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 初 (sho, "first") and 日 (nichi, "day").

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 初日 (shonichi) often describes the first day of a new job or school, while opening day often refers to a public event.

Other meanings

  • opening daynoun

Opposites

  • 最終日saishūnichilast daynoun

Word lists with this word