初 Kanji – first time
The Japanese kanji 初 can mean first time, beginning.
Meaning and Readings
How is 初 read?
初 has the onyomi reading ショ and the kunyomi readings はじめ, はじめて, はつ, はつ-, うい-, -そめる, -ぞめ.
In romaji, these readings can be written as sho, hajime, hajimete, hatsu, ui, someru, zome.
Common Japanese Words Using 初
These common Japanese words contain 初. Select linked kanji to explore their meanings and readings.
- 月初め（つきはじめ） — beginning of the month
- 最初（さいしょ） — beginning, outset, first, onset
- 初めに（はじめに） — first, firstly, first of all, to begin with, in the beginning, at the beginning
- 初（はつ） — first, new
- 初めて（はじめて） — for the first time
- 初める（そめる） — to begin to
- 初演（しょえん） — first performance, premiere
- 初夏（しょか） — early summer
- 初回（しょかい） — first time, first innings, initial attempt
- 初期（しょき） — early days, early years, early stages, initial stages, beginning