Japanese Conversation · Level 105
60 words
Japanese word
当初
Pronunciation
Romajitōsho
Meaning
- nounat first
Example
当初は問題ありませんでした。tō sho wa mon dai a ri ma se n de shi ta
At first, there were no problems.
More examples
当初は反対していた人も、後で賛成しました。tō sho wa han tai shi te i ta hito mo ato de san sei shi ma shi ta
Even people who opposed it at first agreed later.
Core concept
Points to the beginning stage of an event or situation before later developments occur.
Common phrases
当初の計画tō sho no kei kaku
initial plan
当初の目的tō sho no moku teki
initial purpose
当初からtō sho ka ra
from the beginning
Similar words
最初saisho: The point at which something starts or comes first in order.
初めhajime: The early part of an event, period, or process.
Definition in Japanese
物事の始まりのころ。mono goto no haji ma ri no ko ro
Word origin
The Sino-Japanese word 当初 (tōsho, "at first") combines 当 (tō, "that" or "current") with 初 (sho, "beginning").
Usage tips
- In everyday conversation, speakers often use 最初 (saisho) instead of 当初 (tōsho), while 当初 sounds more formal and is common in explanations of how a situation changed.
Opposites
- 最後saigoendnoun