Japanese word

序盤

Pronunciation

Romajijoban

Meaning

  • nounopening

Example

碁の序盤では、石を広く置きます。go no jo ban de wa ishi o hiro ku o ki ma su

In the opening of a game of go, players place stones across the board.

Illustration for 序盤 (opening)

More examples

交渉の序盤で、両者は基本的な条件を確認しました。kō shō no jo ban de ryō sha wa ki hon teki na jō ken o kaku nin shi ma shi ta

At the opening of the negotiations, both sides confirmed the basic terms.

Core concept

Refers to the opening stage of an activity, when the main development or result has not yet emerged.

Common phrases

  • 序盤でリードするjo ban de rī do su ru

    take the lead in the opening

  • 序盤の流れjo ban no naga re

    the flow of the opening

Similar words

初期shoki: The early part of a process or activity, before it has fully developed.
冒頭bōtō: The first part of a speech, text, event, or period.
幕開けmakuake: The beginning of an event, activity, or new period.

Definition in Japanese

試合や物事の進行における、始まって間もない時期。shi ai ya mono goto no shin kō ni o ke ru haji ma tte ma mo na i ji ki

Word origin

The compound 序盤 (joban) joins 序 (jo, "beginning") with 盤 (ban, "board"), a word associated with the board on which a game unfolds.

Usage tips

  • 序盤 (joban) commonly describes the opening of a game, but it also sounds natural with plans, negotiations, and other developing situations.

Opposites

Word lists with this word