Chinese word

起初

Pronunciation

Pinyinqǐ chū

Meaning

  • adverbat first

Example

起初我不相信他。qǐ chū wǒ bù xiāng xìn tā

At first, I didn't believe him.

Illustration for 起初 (at first)

More examples

起初以为这件事很难，后来却很简单。qǐ chū yǐ wéi zhè jiàn shì hěn nán hòu lái què hěn jiǎn dān

At first, I thought this matter was difficult, but later it turned out to be very simple.

Core concept

The first point in a situation, before later developments unfold.

Common phrases

  • 起初以为qǐ chū yǐ wéi

    at first think

  • 起初觉得qǐ chū jué de

    at first feel

  • 起初并不qǐ chū bìng bù

    not at first

Similar words

最初zuì chū: Refers to the earliest point in an event, process, or sequence.
一开始yì kāi shǐ: Refers to the moment a situation or action begins, or its early period.
当初dāng chū: Refers to the original situation, view, or condition at the beginning.
起先qǐ xiān: Refers to the short early period just after something begins.

Definition in Chinese

在某事开始之初，用于说明最早的情况或起点。zài mǒu shì kāi shǐ zhī chū yòng yú shuō míng zuì zǎo de qíng kuàng huò qí diǎn

Word origin

起 (qǐ, "start") + 初 (chū, "first") forms 起初 (qǐchū, "at first"), a time word for the opening stage of a situation.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, it helps organize a short story by marking what was true at the beginning before the speaker describes what happened next.

Other meanings

  • originallyadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word