HSK · Level 49
120 words
Chinese word
当初
Pronunciation
Pinyindāng chū
Meaning
- adverbinitially
Example
他当初打算去留学。tā dāng chū dǎ suàn qù liú xué
He initially planned to study abroad.
More examples
我当初以为这件事很简单，后来才知道不一样。wǒ dāng chū yǐ wéi zhè jiàn shì hěn jiǎn dān hòu lái cái zhī dào bù yí yàng
I initially thought this was simple, but later found out it was different.
Core concept
The starting point of an earlier situation, viewed against what happened later.
Common phrases
当初以为dāng chū yǐ wéi
initially think
当初打算dāng chū dǎ suàn
initially plan
Similar words
起初qǐ chū: At first, in a somewhat formal way, when describing the early stage of a situation.
一开始yì kāi shǐ: Right when something begins or during its first stage, in everyday speech.
最初zuì chū: At the earliest point in a sequence or situation.
Definition in Chinese
用于表示某一时间点的最开始阶段或最初情况，多用于叙述过去事件的起始。yòng yú biǎo shì mǒu yì shí jiān diǎn de zuì kāi shǐ jiē duàn huò zuì chū qíng kuàng duō yòng yú xù shù guò qù shì jiàn de qí shǐ
Word origin
当 (dāng, "that time") + 初 (chū, "beginning") marks the beginning of a situation located in the past.
Usage tips
- Because it looks backward from the present, this word suits a past plan or condition that may later change, rather than a general statement about how things begin.