Kanji N3

初: first time, beginning

初 is a JLPT N3 kanji meaning first time, beginning, written with 7 strokes. It is read ショ (on) and はじめ, はじめて, はつ (kun). Children in Japan learn it in grade 4. You will see it in 最初 (さいしょ, beginning) and 初め (はじめ, beginning).

初

Meanings

  • first time
  • beginning
Strokes7
JLPT levelN3
School gradeGrade 4
Frequency#152 of 2,500

On reading · Kun reading

On reading
  • ショ

On'yomi: from Chinese, written in katakana. Used in compound words.

Kun reading
  • はじめ
  • はじめて
  • はつ
  • はつ-
  • うい-
  • -そめる
  • -ぞめ

Kun'yomi: native Japanese, in hiragana. The faint part is the okurigana, written in kana after the kanji.

Watch the stroke order

Every stroke in order, the live one in vermilion. Replay as often as you like.

1234567

Now draw it

Trace each stroke in order. Wrong direction or wrong order gets flagged right away.

12345670 / 7

Your turn: draw stroke 1 of 7. Start at the dot.

Common words with 初

The most useful words written with it, easiest first. Every other kanji in them opens its own page.

  • 最初さいしょ

    beginning; outset; first; onset

    JLPT N4
  • 初めはじめ

    beginning; start; outset; opening

    JLPT N5
  • 初めてはじめて

    for the first time

    JLPT N5
  • 初はつ

    first; new

    JLPT N1
  • 初旬しょじゅん

    first 10 days of the month

    JLPT N2
  • 初版しょはん

    first edition

    JLPT N1
  • 初級しょきゅう

    elementary level; beginner level

    JLPT N2
  • 初耳はつみみ

    something heard for the first time

    JLPT N1

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Stroke order from KanjiVG © Ulrich Apel, CC BY-SA 3.0. Readings, meanings and words from KANJIDIC2 and JMdict, names from JMnedict, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0, and Wikidata, CC0. JLPT lists after Jonathan Waller (tanos.co.uk), CC BY.