Japanese Conversation · Level 28
90 words
Japanese word
最初
Pronunciation
Romajisaisho
Meaning
- adverbfirst
Example
私は最初に宿題をします。watashi wa sai sho ni shuku dai o shi ma su
I do my homework first.
More examples
最初は難しくても、毎日練習すれば上達します。sai sho wa muzuka shi ku te mo mai nichi ren shū su re ba jō tatsu shi ma su
Even if it is difficult at first, you will improve if you practice every day.
Core concept
Places an action at the earliest point in a series, before the remaining actions or events.
Common phrases
最初にsai sho ni
first
最初はsai sho wa
at first
最初からsai sho ka ra
from the beginning
Similar words
まずmazu: It marks the first step taken in an action or process.
Definition in Japanese
いくつかの事柄のうち、時間や順序でいちばん先に行うさま。i ku tsu ka no koto gara no u chi ji kan ya jun jo de i chi ba n saki ni okona u sa ma
Word origin
最初 (saisho) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 最 (sai, "most") and 初 (sho, "beginning"), meaning the very first stage.
Usage tips
- The pattern 最初は (saisho wa) often introduces an initial state that is contrasted with a later change.
Other meanings
- beginningnoun
Opposites
- 最後saigolastnoun