Chinese word

最初

Pronunciation

Pinyinzuì chū

Meaning

  • adverbat first

Example

最初我有点害怕。zuì chū wǒ yóu diǎn hài pà

At first, I was a little afraid.

Illustration for 最初 (at first)

More examples

我们最初没有想到会这么快。wǒ men zuì chū méi yǒu xiǎng dào huì zhè me kuài

At first, we did not expect it to be this fast.

Core concept

The starting point used to locate the first phase of a sequence.

Common phrases

  • 最初没有zuì chū méi yǒu

    initially did not

  • 最初遇到zuì chū yù dào

    first encountered

Similar words

一开始yì kāi shǐ: Places an action or state at the beginning of an event or process.
刚开始gāng kāi shǐ: Shows that an action or state is happening right after it begins.
起初qǐ chū: Places an action or state in the initial period, with a literary tone.
当初dāng chū: Points to the thoughts or circumstances present at the beginning.

Definition in Chinese

用于表示在时间或次序上位于第一阶段的时刻或阶段，常与动词连用作副词，也可指开始的时期。yòng yú biǎo shì zài shí jiān huò cì xù shàng wèi yú dì yì jiē duàn de shí kè huò jiē duàn cháng yǔ dòng cí lián yòng zuò fù cí yě kě zhǐ kāi shǐ de shí qī

Word origin

The compound 最 (zuì, "most") + 初 (chū, "beginning") presents the beginning as the earliest part of a sequence.

Usage tips

  • As a time adverb, it usually stands before the verb or adjective it frames, making the time setting clear from the start.

Other meanings

  • beginningnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word