A2 adverb Neutral 2 Min. Lesezeit

初めて

hajimete /ha.dʑi.me.te/

Overview

The Japanese word '始めて' (hajimete) is an adverb derived from the verb '始める' (hajimeru), meaning 'to begin' or 'to start'. As an adverb, '始めて' translates to 'for the first time' or 'for the very first time'. It emphasizes the novelty or inaugural nature of an action or experience. When used in a sentence, it typically precedes the verb it modifies.

Here's a breakdown of its nuances and usage:

  • Expressing Novelty: The primary function of '始めて' is to convey that an action is being performed or an experience is being had for the very first time. For example, '日本に始めて行きました' (Nihon ni hajimete ikimashita) means 'I went to Japan for the first time.'
  • Emphasis: The word itself carries a sense of emphasis on the 'firstness'. While you could technically say '最初に' (saisho ni - at first/initially), '始めて' specifically highlights the unique, unprecedented nature of the event for the speaker or subject.
  • Contextual Usage: '始めて' can be used in various contexts, from simple everyday occurrences to more significant life events. For instance:
  • 'これは始めて食べました。' (Kore wa hajimete tabemashita.) - 'I ate this for the first time.'
  • '始めて東京タワーに登りました。' (Hajimete Tōkyō Tawā ni noborimashita.) - 'I climbed Tokyo Tower for the first time.'
  • '始めての経験でした。' (Hajimete no keiken deshita.) - 'It was a first experience.' (Here, '始めての' acts as a pre-noun adjectival phrase meaning 'first-time' or 'initial'.)
  • Distinction from '最初' (saisho): While both can relate to beginnings, '最初' often refers to the initial part of a sequence or a general 'first' in a series, without necessarily implying a never-before-done action. For example, '最初に、自己紹介をします。' (Saisho ni, jikoshōkai o shimasu.) means 'First, I will introduce myself.' Here, '最初' indicates the order, not necessarily that it's the very first time the person has ever introduced themselves.
  • Formal vs. Informal: '始めて' is a versatile word and can be used in both formal and informal settings without sounding out of place.

In essence, '始めて' is a crucial adverb in Japanese for clearly communicating that an action or event is a new and initial occurrence for the subject, making it an indispensable part of expressive communication.

Beispiele

1

私は初めて日本に行きました。

Travel

I went to Japan for the first time.

2

彼女は初めてのプレゼンテーションで緊張していました。

Work/School

She was nervous for her first presentation.

3

こんなに美味しい料理は初めて食べました。

Food

This is the first time I've eaten such delicious food.

4

彼は初めての海外旅行にわくわくしている。

Travel

He is excited about his first overseas trip.

5

初めて会ったときから、彼に惹かれていた。

Relationships

I was attracted to him from the first time we met.

Häufige Kollokationen

初めての経験
初めて会う
初めて日本に来た
初めての試み

Wird oft verwechselt mit

初めて vs. 初めて
The word 初めて (hajimete) means "for the first time." This is an adverbial form of the verb 初める (hajimeru), which means "to begin" or "to start." It is often used to describe an action that is being experienced for the first time by the speaker or subject.
初めて vs. 初めての
初めての (hajimete no) is the attributive form of 初めて, meaning "first" or "initial." It precedes a noun to modify it, similar to an adjective. For example, 初めての経験 (hajimete no keiken) means "first experience."
初めて vs. 初め
初め (hajime) as a noun means "beginning" or "start." It can refer to the start of a period, an event, or a process. For example, 物事の初め (monogoto no hajime) means "the beginning of things." It is not used to describe an action happening for the first time by a subject, but rather the general concept of a beginning.
初めて vs. 最初に
最初に (saisho ni) means "first of all," "at first," or "initially." While it also indicates something happening at the beginning, it often implies a sequence of events or a priority. It can be used similarly to 初めて in some contexts, but 初めて specifically emphasizes the novelty of the experience for the subject. For instance, 最初に食べた (saisho ni tabeta) could mean "I ate it first (before other things)," whereas 初めて食べた (hajimete tabeta) means "I ate it for the first time."
初めて vs. まず
まず (mazu) means "first," "to begin with," or "first of all." It is typically used to indicate the initial action in a sequence or a preparatory step. It does not carry the same nuance of novelty or experiencing something for the first time that 初めて does. For example, まずこれを読んでください (mazu kore o yonde kudasai) means "First, please read this."

Grammatikmuster

初めて + Verb 〜てから初めて Noun + が初めてだ/です

So verwendest du es

Nutzungshinweise

Hajimete (初めて) is primarily an adverb, meaning 'for the first time,' or a noun, meaning 'the first time.' It can precede verbs to modify them, as in 'Hajimete tabemashita' (初めて食べました - I ate it for the first time). When used as a noun, it often appears with particles like 'no' (の) to connect it to another noun, as in 'Hajimete no Nihon' (初めての日本 - My first time in Japan). It's crucial to distinguish it from 'saisho ni' (最初に), which means 'at first' or 'initially' in a sequence, not necessarily a personal first experience. While 'hajimete' focuses on the novelty of an experience for the speaker, 'saisho ni' refers to the temporal order of events. For example, you would say 'Hajimete sushio tabemashita' (I ate sushi for the first time) to express a new personal experience, but 'Saisho ni, gohan o tabemashou' (First, let's eat rice) to indicate the initial step in a sequence. Another common usage is in the phrase 'O-hajimete desu ka?' (お初めてですか? - Is this your first time?), a polite way to inquire about someone's first experience with something, often used in service industries. The kanji 初 (hatsu) itself means 'first' and appears in many other words related to beginnings, like 'hatsuyume' (初夢 - first dream of the year) and 'hatsumōde' (初詣 - first shrine visit of the year).


Häufige Fehler

Some learners confuse '初めて' (hajimete - for the first time) with '最初' (saisho - the very beginning/first). While related, '初めて' emphasizes the novelty of an experience, while '最初' simply indicates order. For example, you might say '初めて日本に行った' (I went to Japan for the first time) but '最初に着いたのは東京だった' (The first place I arrived at was Tokyo).

Tipps

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Usage of 初めて (hajimete)

初めて (hajimete) means "for the first time." It is used to describe an action or experience that is new to the speaker or subject. For example, 「日本に初めて行きました。」(Nihon ni hajimete ikimashita.) means "I went to Japan for the first time."
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Common mistake

While 初めて (hajimete) means "for the first time," it is not used to refer to a "first time" in the sense of a "first attempt" or "first instance" of something that might be repeated. In those cases, other words like 最初 (saisho - first, beginning) or 一回目 (ikkaime - first time/round) might be more appropriate. For example, if you are talking about your first attempt at a difficult task, you might say 「最初の試み」 (saisho no kokoromi - first attempt).
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Example sentences

1. 彼女は初めて飛行機に乗りました。(Kanojo wa hajimete hikōki ni norimashita.) - She rode an airplane for the first time. 2. 初めて彼に会ったのは去年の夏でした。(Hajimete kare ni atta no wa kyonen no natsu deshita.) - The first time I met him was last summer. 3. この料理を初めて食べました。(Kono ryōri o hajimete tabemashita.) - I ate this dish for the first time.

Wortherkunft

The word 初めて (hajimete) comes from the adjective 初い (ui), meaning 'first' or 'new,' and the particle て (te), which indicates a state or manner. The original form was 初めて (uishimete), which evolved into 初めて (hajimete) over time. The kanji 初 means 'first' or 'beginning.'

Kultureller Kontext

Hajimete (初めて) in Japanese carries significant cultural weight, reflecting the Japanese appreciation for new experiences and beginnings. The concept of 'first time' is often associated with purity, innocence, and a sense of wonder. For instance, 'Hajimete no Otsukai' (はじめてのおつかい - My First Errand) is a beloved TV show where young children embark on their first solo errands, highlighting the cultural value placed on independence and growth from an early age. In personal relationships, a 'hajimete no date' (はじめてのデート - first date) is approached with a blend of excitement and formality, reflecting the importance of initial impressions and mutual respect. The cherry blossom viewing season, 'hanami', often includes people experiencing their 'hajimete no hanami' (first cherry blossom viewing) for the year, a moment savored for its transient beauty and symbolic newness. The phrase often evokes a sense of nostalgia when looking back at past 'firsts' and anticipation when looking forward to future ones, reinforcing a cultural inclination towards reflection and forward-looking perspective. It also ties into the concept of 'ichigo ichie' (一期一会), meaning 'one time, one meeting,' emphasizing the unique and unrepeatable nature of each moment, especially a first experience.

Merkhilfe

Visualize someone experiencing something completely new, like a child seeing snow for the first time. The wonder and novelty are key to '初めて'.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

4 Fragen
'初めて' (hajimete) is a Japanese word that means 'for the first time.' It is often used to express a new experience or an action that has never been done before. This adverb can modify verbs and adjectives, indicating novelty or a lack of prior occurrence. It emphasizes the uniqueness of the event. For example, if someone says '日本に初めて行きました' (Nihon ni hajimete ikimashita), it translates to 'I went to Japan for the first time,' highlighting that it was their initial visit to the country.
'初めて' is an adverb and typically precedes the verb or adjective it modifies. It sets the context of a new experience. For instance, in the sentence '初めて日本語を話しました' (Hajimete Nihongo o hanashimashita), it means 'I spoke Japanese for the first time.' Here, '初めて' directly modifies the verb '話しました' (hanashimashita - spoke), emphasizing that the act of speaking Japanese is a new experience for the speaker. It can also be used in more complex sentence structures to describe a 'first-time' event.
Certainly! In a casual conversation, you might hear something like: 'これ、初めて食べたけど、すごく美味しいね!' (Kore, hajimete tabeta kedo, sugoku oishii ne!) which translates to 'I ate this for the first time, but it's really delicious!' Another example could be: '初めてこんなにたくさん雪が降ったよ' (Hajimete konna ni takusan yuki ga futta yo), meaning 'It snowed this much for the first time.' These examples demonstrate its use in everyday language to describe novel experiences.
While '初めて' specifically means 'for the first time,' there are related expressions that convey similar ideas. For instance, '最初' (saisho) means 'first' or 'beginning,' and can sometimes be used in contexts related to initial occurrences, but it doesn't carry the same 'never before' implication as '初めて.' '初回' (shokai) refers to the 'first time' in a series or a session, such as a 'first episode' or 'first meeting.' '初めて' uniquely highlights the novelty and personal experience of something being done for the very first time.

Teste dich selbst

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私は[ ]寿司を食べました。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
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彼女は[ ]日本へ行きました。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
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この本は[ ]読みます。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:

Ergebnis: /3

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