Explanation at your level:
You use 起初 to say 'at first'. It is very easy to use! Just put it at the start of your sentence when you want to tell a story about the past.
Use 起初 to talk about your day. For example, 'At first, I was tired, but then I had coffee.' It helps you organize your sentences clearly.
Intermediate learners use 起初 to contrast states. It is great for writing essays where you need to explain how an opinion changed over time.
At this level, you can use 起初 to discuss complex narrative arcs. It adds nuance to your descriptions of historical or personal shifts.
Advanced users employ 起初 to frame analytical arguments. It helps in academic writing to establish a baseline before presenting a counter-argument or a new discovery.
Mastery involves using 起初 in literary contexts to evoke a sense of nostalgia or to highlight the irony of a situation that evolved unexpectedly from its humble beginnings.
Mot en 30 secondes
- Means 'at first'.
- Always used for past events.
- Adverb of time.
- Very common in storytelling.
When you use 起初, you are setting the scene for a story or an explanation. It helps listeners understand that what happened at the start might be different from what happened later.
Think of it as a bridge between the beginning of an event and its eventual outcome. It is a very common word in both storytelling and daily conversation.
The word 起初 is composed of two characters: 起 (to rise or start) and 初 (the beginning). Together, they form a classic Chinese expression for the origin of a timeline.
Historically, it has been used in classical texts to denote the inception of dynasties or life events. It remains a staple in modern Mandarin because of its clarity and precision.
You use 起初 at the beginning of a clause to describe the initial state of a situation. It is often paired with words like 后来 (later) to show a contrast.
It is perfectly acceptable in both formal writing and casual speech. It is a neutral, versatile term that fits almost any context where you need to describe a beginning.
While 起初 is a direct adverb, it appears in many idioms about beginnings, such as 起初的印象 (first impression). Another common usage is 起初的时候 (at the time when it started).
These phrases help you sound more natural when narrating personal experiences or historical events.
As an adverb, 起初 usually sits at the very beginning of a sentence or right after the subject. It does not change form because it is not a noun or verb.
The pronunciation is qǐchū. The first character is a third tone, and the second is a first tone. Practice the transition to get that smooth, native flow.
Fun Fact
The character '初' contains the radical for 'clothing' (衣), because the first step in making clothes is cutting the fabric.
Pronunciation Guide
Mandarin tones: 3rd and 1st.
Same as UK.
Common Errors
- Mixing up tones
- Pronouncing as 2nd tone
- Dropping the 'r' sound in 'chu'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Common usage
Natural
Clear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avanc
Grammar to Know
Adverb Placement
起初我不知道。
Time Words
起初，后来，最后。
Negative Adverbs
起初并没有。
Examples by Level
起初，我不喜欢苹果。
At first, I don't like apples.
Adverb placement.
起初，天气很好。
At first, the weather was good.
Simple state.
起初，他很害羞。
At first, he was shy.
Adjective usage.
起初，我们不认识。
At first, we didn't know each other.
Negative verb.
起初，这很难。
At first, it was difficult.
State of being.
起初，我不懂。
At first, I didn't understand.
Mental state.
起初，我很累。
At first, I was tired.
Physical state.
起初，这是秘密。
At first, it was a secret.
Noun complement.
起初，我以为这是真的。
起初，大家都很安静。
起初，他没说话。
起初，计划很完美。
起初，我不习惯这里。
起初，这只是个游戏。
起初，我们很开心。
起初，他拒绝了。
起初，局势不明朗。
起初，我并没有意识到危险。
起初，这个想法被拒绝了。
起初，她表现得很冷静。
起初，项目进展顺利。
起初，我们意见不合。
起初，他并不出名。
起初，这看起来不可能。
起初，人们对新技术持怀疑态度。
起初，该地区的经济增长缓慢。
起初，他的动机并不明确。
起初，我们并未预料到后果。
起初，这只是一个小小的误会。
起初，她对这份工作感到不适应。
起初，法律条款并不完善。
起初，双方都保持克制。
起初，这一理论遭到了学术界的抵制。
起初，事态的发展超出了我们的预期。
起初，这种现象被误认为是偶然。
起初，他并未展现出领导才能。
起初，公司内部对改革存在分歧。
起初，这种文化差异造成了沟通障碍。
起初，环境评估显示风险较低。
起初，艺术风格倾向于写实。
起初，文明的萌芽在河谷地区显现。
起初，他并未觉察到命运的转折。
起初，这不过是历史长河中的一朵浪花。
起初，哲学思考往往源于对自然的敬畏。
起初，这种叙事结构显得支离破碎。
起初，改革的阻力来自既得利益者。
起初，宇宙的演化遵循着简单的法则。
起初，这种语言形式仅见于民间传说。
Collocations courantes
Idioms & Expressions
"起初的印象"
First impression
起初的印象很重要。
neutral"起初的时候"
At the beginning time
起初的时候，大家都不说话。
neutral"起初的打算"
Initial plan
这违背了我们起初的打算。
formal"起初的模样"
Original appearance
这里恢复了起初的模样。
literary"起初的反应"
Initial reaction
这是他起初的反应。
neutral"起初的设想"
Initial conception
起初的设想太理想化了。
formalEasily Confused
Both relate to start.
Verb vs Adverb.
开始 (start) vs 起初 (at first).
Very similar.
起先 is more casual.
Interchangeable in speech.
Refers to past.
当初 focuses on the specific time.
当初 vs 起初.
Sequence.
首先 is for lists.
首先 vs 起初.
Sentence Patterns
起初 + Subj + Verb
起初他很生气。
Subj + 起初 + Verb
我起初不知道。
起初 + Verb + ，+ 后来 + Verb
起初很难，后来容易了。
起初的 + Noun + 是 + Noun
起初的想法是错误的。
起初 + Subj + 并没有 + Verb
起初他并没有同意。
Famille de mots
Nouns
Verbs
Apparenté
How to Use It
9/10
Formality Scale
Erreurs courantes
起初 refers to time/narrative start, not logical order.
It is an adverb of time.
Different grammatical categories.
起初 refers to the past.
Repetition sounds unnatural.
Tips
Sunrise Trick
Think of the sun rising.
Contrast
Always pair with 'later'.
Literary
Used in books often.
Placement
Front of sentence.
Tones
3rd-1st tone.
Don't use for future
Past only.
Etymology
Clothing radical.
Flashcards
Pair with antonyms.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a sunrise: '起' (rise) + '初' (first light).
Visual Association
A sun rising over a mountain.
Word Web
Défi
Write three sentences about your day using '起初'.
Origine du mot
Chinese
Original meaning: Rising beginning
Contexte culturel
None.
Directly maps to 'at first' in English.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Storytelling
- 起初的时候
- 故事起初
- 起初的场景
Work
- 起初的计划
- 起初的预算
- 起初的设想
Relationships
- 起初的印象
- 起初的接触
- 起初的尴尬
Learning
- 起初的困难
- 起初的学习
- 起初的进步
Conversation Starters
"起初你对这份工作怎么看？"
"起初你觉得这个电影怎么样？"
"起初你们是怎么认识的？"
"起初这个项目很难吗？"
"起初你为什么想学中文？"
Journal Prompts
Write about your first day at school using '起初'.
Describe a time your opinion changed.
Explain a project you started.
How did you feel when you first met your best friend?
Questions fréquentes
8 questionsIt is neutral.
Yes, it is very common.
起初 is an adverb; 开始 is a verb/noun.
No.
No, it must be at the start.
Yes, almost always.
Yes, perfectly.
起先.
Teste-toi
___, 我很紧张。
It describes the start.
Which word means 'at first'?
Definition.
Can '起初' be used for future events?
It refers to the past.
Word
Signification
Contrast.
Adverb placement.
Score : /5
Summary
Use '起初' to set the stage for your story by describing how things were at the very beginning.
- Means 'at first'.
- Always used for past events.
- Adverb of time.
- Very common in storytelling.
Sunrise Trick
Think of the sun rising.
Contrast
Always pair with 'later'.
Literary
Used in books often.
Placement
Front of sentence.
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