初めに Beginning

Meaning

Primary

Beginning

Alternatives

In The Beginning, First Of All, To Begin With

Word Type

expression

Explanation

This is a time based word (because of the に). What is the first point of time when you are beginning something? That is the beginning.

Reading

はじめに

Explanation

This word uses the kun'yomi, which you didn't learn with the kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you out. What are you beginning? You are beginning Haj (はじ). (Haj is the fifth pillar of Islam, and is a pilgrimage to Mecca during the month of Dhu al-Hijja).

Context

Common Word Combinations

• 〜初めに

  まず初めに

  to begin with, first of all

  一番初めに

  right at the beginning

  では初めに

  and so to begin

• 初めに〜

  初めに言う

  to say in the beginning

  初めにする

  to do in the beginning

  初めにあいさつをする

  to greet at the beginning

Context Sentences

まず初めに牛肉をスライスして、それからフライパンでいためてください。

To begin with, please first slice the beef and then pan fry it.

初めに言わせてもらいますが、アドリブえんそうはしないでください。

First of all, please don't improvise.

トーフグよ安らかに眠ってくれ。今月初めに、僕の一番好きな日本語学習サイトが倒産しちゃったんだ。

R.I.P. Tofugu. At the beginning of this month my favorite Japanese learning site went bankrupt.

Kanji Composition

1. 初

   しょ First