Japanese word

初

Pronunciation

Romajihatsu

Meaning

  • nounfirst time

Example

スキーは初です。su kī wa hatsu de su

This is my first time skiing.

Illustration for 初 (first time)

More examples

日本語で買い物をするのは初です。nihon go de ka i mono o su ru no wa hatsu de su

This is my first time shopping in Japanese.

Core concept

Marks an experience as the first of its kind for the person involved.

Common phrases

  • 初の経験hatsu no kei ken

    first experience

  • 初の海外旅行hatsu no kai gai ryo kō

    first overseas trip

Similar words

初回shokai: The first occurrence of an event, session, or activity.

Definition in Japanese

ある事柄を初めて経験すること。a ru koto gara o haji me te kei ken su ru ko to

Word origin

The noun 初 (hatsu, "first time") uses the Japanese reading of 初, a character whose basic sense is beginning or first occurrence.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 初 (hatsu) can describe a person's first experience, while 初めて (hajimete) is more common when that meaning is stated directly.

Other meanings

  • newnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word