When you start learning Japanese, you'll often come across the word 初め (hajime). It simply means 'beginning' or 'first'. Think of it as the starting point of something.
For instance, if you're talking about the 'beginning of the year', you'd use 初め. It's a very practical word to know for basic conversations.
When you're just starting out in Japanese, you'll encounter words like 初め (hajime) often. This word is a noun and means "beginning" or "first." It's quite versatile!
Think of it as the start of something, whether it's a new project, a new year, or even the first part of a story. You'll hear it in common phrases and it's a good one to remember as you build your vocabulary.
When you're at a B2 level in Japanese, you'll encounter words like 初め (はじめ - hajime), which means "beginning" or "first." It's often used in formal contexts or when discussing the start of a period or event. For instance, when you want to refer to the "beginning of the year," you'd say 年の初め (としのはじめ - toshi no hajime). It can also appear in set phrases, such as 初めまして (はじめまして - hajimemashite), which means "Nice to meet you" and literally translates to "(this is) the first (time)." Understanding these nuances helps you sound more natural and precise in your Japanese.
§ What 初め means
- Japanese Word
- 初め (はじめ)
- Definition
- Beginning; first.
初め (はじめ) is a noun that means 'beginning' or 'first.' It's pretty straightforward, but you'll see it used in a few different ways. Think of it as the start of something.
§ Examples of 初め
会の初めに挨拶しました。
Kai no hajime ni aisatsu shimashita.
I gave a greeting at the beginning of the meeting.
この本の初めはとても面白いです。
Kono hon no hajime wa totemo omoshiroi desu.
The beginning of this book is very interesting.
日本語の勉強の初めは難しいです。
Nihongo no benkyou no hajime wa muzukashii desu.
The beginning of Japanese study is difficult.
§ When to use 初め vs. other words
You might be thinking, "Aren't there other words for 'beginning' or 'start' in Japanese?" Yes, there are! Let's break down when to use 初め and when to opt for something else.
- 初め (はじめ)
- This is your general-purpose 'beginning.' It refers to the initial part of a period, event, or sequence. It often carries a sense of the very first part, or the initial stage.
Here are some common ways 初め is used:
- Temporal beginning: The start of a day, month, year, or a longer period.
- Event beginning: The opening part of a meeting, concert, or speech.
- Sequential beginning: The first item in a list or the first step in a process.
- 始まり (はじまり)
- This is also a noun meaning 'beginning,' derived from the verb 始まる (はじまる - to begin/start). It often implies the *act* of starting or the *origin* of something, rather than just the initial segment. It can feel a bit more dramatic or significant than 初め.
新しいプロジェクトの始まりです。
Atarashii purojekuto no hajimari desu.
It's the beginning of a new project. (Emphasizes the start as an event)
- 最初 (さいしょ)
- This means 'first' or 'initial.' While similar to 初め, it often focuses on the *first in a series* or the *very first instance* of something. It can also be used as an adverb meaning 'at first.' It frequently implies a comparison with what comes after.
最初に食べたのはラーメンでした。
Saisho ni tabeta no wa ramen deshita.
The first thing I ate was ramen.
§ Summary of usage
To sum it up:
- 初め (はじめ): General beginning, initial phase, the very start of a period or event.
- 始まり (はじまり): The act of starting, the origin, often with a slightly more active or significant feel.
- 最初 (さいしょ): The first in a series, the very first instance, often used when comparing to what follows.
Don't overthink it too much at first. When in doubt, 初め is a safe bet for 'beginning.' As you get more comfortable, you'll start to feel the subtle differences. Keep practicing, and you'll get the hang of it!
ज़रूरी व्याकरण
Can be used as a noun meaning 'the beginning' or 'the start of something'. It often appears with の (no) to modify another noun, indicating the 'first part of' or 'beginning of' that noun.
物語の初め (monogatari no hajime) - The beginning of the story.
When used adverbially with に (ni), 初めに (hajime ni) means 'at first' or 'to begin with', indicating the initial action or state in a sequence.
初めに、自己紹介をしてください。(Hajime ni, jikoshoukai o shite kudasai.) - First, please introduce yourself.
It can be combined with other words to form compound nouns related to beginnings, such as 初めまして (hajimemashite), which means 'nice to meet you' (literally 'it's the first time').
初めまして、田中です。(Hajimemashite, Tanaka desu.) - Nice to meet you, I'm Tanaka.
初め can be contrasted with 終わり (owari), meaning 'end', to describe the start and finish of events, periods, or objects.
会の初めと終わり (kai no hajime to owari) - The beginning and end of the meeting.
In some contexts, particularly with numbers, 初め can indicate 'the first' in a series, similar to the English 'first one'.
初めの一歩 (hajime no ippo) - The first step.
स्तर के अनुसार उदाहरण
初めに、自己紹介をお願いします。
First, please introduce yourself.
初めに (hajime ni) means 'firstly' or 'to begin with'.
そのプロジェクトの初めは順調でした。
The beginning of that project went smoothly.
プロジェクトの初め (project no hajime) means 'the beginning of the project'.
新しい年の初めに目標を立てました。
I set goals at the beginning of the new year.
年の初め (toshi no hajime) means 'the beginning of the year'.
初めは難しかったですが、だんだん慣れてきました。
It was difficult at first, but I gradually got used to it.
初めは (hajime wa) means 'at first'.
彼のスピーチの初めはとても印象的でした。
The beginning of his speech was very impressive.
スピーチの初め (speech no hajime) means 'the beginning of the speech'.
この本は初めから終わりまで面白かったです。
This book was interesting from beginning to end.
初めから終わりまで (hajime kara owari made) means 'from beginning to end'.
初めのうちは緊張しましたが、すぐにリラックスできました。
I was nervous at first, but I was able to relax quickly.
初めのうち (hajime no uchi) means 'at the beginning' or 'at first'.
ゲームの初めにルールを説明します。
I will explain the rules at the beginning of the game.
ゲームの初め (game no hajime) means 'the beginning of the game'.
शब्द परिवार
संज्ञा
क्रिया
इसे कैसे इस्तेमाल करें
Usage Notes for 初め (hajime)
初め (hajime) is a versatile noun that can refer to the beginning of something, the first instance, or the initial stage. It's commonly used in a variety of contexts.
Common Phrases with 初め:
- 初めまして (Hajimemashite): This is arguably the most common use, meaning "How do you do?" or "Nice to meet you." It's specifically used when meeting someone for the first time.
- 初めに (Hajime ni): This phrase means "firstly" or "at the beginning." You'll often hear it when someone is listing points or starting a presentation.
- 初めから (Hajime kara): Meaning "from the beginning." This can refer to a starting point in time or a process.
- 一年の初め (Ichinen no hajime): The beginning of the year.
- 物語の初め (Monogatari no hajime): The beginning of a story.
Distinction from 他の始まりの言葉 (Other Words for Beginning):
While 初め (hajime) often translates to "beginning," it's good to understand its nuances compared to other similar words:
- 最初 (saisho): This also means "first" or "beginning." While often interchangeable with 初め (hajime), 最初 (saisho) tends to emphasize the very first thing in a series or order. Think of it as "the very first one."
- 始まり (hajimari): This is the noun form of the verb 始まる (hajimaru - to begin). It often refers to the act of beginning or the starting point of an event.
In many cases, 初め (hajime) can be used interchangeably with 最初 (saisho) or 始まり (hajimari), but paying attention to the context will help you choose the most natural-sounding word.
Common Mistakes with 初め (hajime)
1. Confusing with 「最初 (saisho)」 or 「始まり (hajimari)」 unnecessarily:
While there are subtle differences, learners sometimes overthink the distinction between 初め (hajime), 最初 (saisho), and 始まり (hajimari). Often, they can be used interchangeably, especially in casual conversation. Don't get too bogged down trying to find a perfect rule for every situation. Focus on the common phrases first.
Correct:
- 会議の初めに、自己紹介をしました。 (Kaigi no hajime ni, jikoshōkai o shimashita.)
- 会議の最初に、自己紹介をしました。 (Kaigi no saisho ni, jikoshōkai o shimashita.)
Hint: Both are perfectly natural for "At the beginning of the meeting, I introduced myself."
2. Using 「初め」 as a verb:
初め (hajime) is a noun. You cannot use it directly as a verb. To express "to begin" or "to start," you need to use the verb 始まる (hajimaru - intransitive, something begins) or 始める (hajimeru - transitive, to begin something).
Incorrect:
- 私は勉強を初めます。 (Watashi wa benkyō o hajimemasu.)
Hint: This is grammatically incorrect as 「初め」 is not a verb here.
Correct:
- 私は勉強を始めます。 (Watashi wa benkyō o hajimemasu.)
Hint: "I will start studying." (Using the transitive verb 始める) - 会議は３時に始まります。 (Kaigi wa san-ji ni hajimarimasu.)
Hint: "The meeting starts at 3 o'clock." (Using the intransitive verb 始まる)
3. Misusing 「初めまして」:
Remember that 初めまして (Hajimemashite) is specifically for meeting someone for the first time. It's not a general greeting like "hello" that you can use every day with the same people.
Incorrect:
- (To a colleague you see every day) 初めまして！ (Hajimemashite!)
Hint: This would sound very odd.
Correct:
- (To a new person) 初めまして。田中です。 (Hajimemashite. Tanaka desu.)
Hint: "How do you do? I'm Tanaka."
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
10 सवालYou can say 年の初め (toshi no hajime) for 'the beginning of the year'. For example, 年の初めに目標を立てる (toshi no hajime ni mokuhyou o tateru) means 'I set goals at the beginning of the year'.
Yes, it can. You might hear something like 物語の初め (monogatari no hajime) for 'the beginning of the story' or 映画の初め (eiga no hajime) for 'the beginning of the movie'.
That's a good question! While both mean 'beginning', 初め (hajime) often refers to the very first part, the start point of something. 始め (hajime), written with a different kanji, can refer to the start of an action or process. Think of 初め as 'the initial part' and 始め as 'the act of starting'. For example, 初めに自己紹介をします (hajime ni jikoshoukai o shimasu) means 'First, I will introduce myself'. Here, 'first' implies the very first thing to do.
You can use 初めは (hajime wa) to mean 'at first'. For instance, 初めは難しかったが、慣れてきた (hajime wa muzukashikatta ga, narete kita) translates to 'At first it was difficult, but I got used to it'.
Absolutely. For example, if you say これが初めての日本訪問です (kore ga hajimete no Nihon houmon desu), it means 'This is my first visit to Japan'. The 〜て form, 初めて (hajimete), is often used for 'for the first time'.
Not directly. While it means 'first' in a temporal or sequential sense, it doesn't typically refer to the 'first person' in a line or group. For that, you'd probably use something like 一番初めの人 (ichiban hajime no hito) which means 'the very first person'.
A common phrase is 初めから (hajime kara), which means 'from the beginning'. For example, 初めからやり直す (hajime kara yarinaosu) means 'to start over from the beginning'.
Yes, it is! The common greeting 初めまして (hajimemashite) literally means something like 'for the first time' and is used when you meet someone for the first time. It's like saying 'Nice to meet you'.
Yes, you can. You might say プロジェクトの初め (project no hajime) for 'the beginning of the project'. For instance, プロジェクトの初めは準備が大切だ (project no hajime wa junbi ga taisetsu da) means 'Preparation is important at the beginning of a project'.
You can say 週の初め (shuu no hajime) for 'the beginning of the week' or 朝の初め (asa no hajime) for 'the early part of the morning'. For example, 週の初めは忙しい (shuu no hajime wa isogashii) means 'The beginning of the week is busy'.
खुद को परखो 54 सवाल
The speaker is about to introduce themselves.
Listen for the time of the first train.
What kind of lesson is this?
Read this aloud:
初めまして。
Focus: Hajimemashite (HA-jee-meh-mah-she-teh)
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
初めに、名前を教えてください。
Focus: Hajime ni, namae o oshiete kudasai.
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
初めのページを開いてください。
Focus: Hajime no pēji o hiraite kudasai.
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Choose the correct kanji for 'hajime' (beginning).
「初め」 is the correct kanji for 'beginning' in this context. While 「始め」 also means beginning, 「初め」 is specifically used for the very first instance or start of something.
Which sentence uses 「初め」 correctly?
「初め」 often refers to the start of an event or period. The other sentences use 「初め」 in ways that are not natural or grammatically correct in Japanese.
What is the English meaning of 「初めまして」?
「初めまして」 is a common greeting used when meeting someone for the first time, literally meaning 'for the first time.'
「初め」 can be used to describe the first page of a book.
Yes, you can use 「初め」 to refer to the beginning part of a book, like 「本の初め」 (the beginning of the book).
「初め」 is only used for the very first time something happens, never for the start of a repeated action.
While often used for the very first time, 「初め」 can also refer to the beginning of a repeated action or period. For example, 「毎月の初め」 (the beginning of every month).
The word 「初め」 can be used as a standalone sentence to mean 'the beginning.'
「初め」 is a noun, so it needs to be part of a sentence or phrase to make sense. It can't stand alone as a complete sentence.
この本の___はとても面白いです。
文脈から、「この本の始まりはとても面白い」という意味が適切です。
パーティーの___に彼に会いました。
「パーティーの初めに彼に会った」が自然な表現です。
新しいプロジェクトの___は順調です。
「新しいプロジェクトの始まりは順調だ」という意味で、「初め」が適切です。
映画の___の部分で泣いてしまいました。
「映画の最初の部分で泣いた」という文脈で、「初め」が正しいです。
今年の___から日本語を勉強しています。
「今年の初めから日本語を勉強している」が自然です。
話の___を説明してください。
「話の始まりを説明してください」という意味で、「初め」が適切です。
Choose the correct kanji for 'hajime' (beginning).
Both 初め and 始め can be read 'hajime' but 初め specifically refers to the very beginning or first instance of something, which aligns with the provided definition. 始め is more about starting an action.
Which sentence uses '初め' correctly to mean 'the very beginning'?
「初めから」 (hajime kara) means 'from the very beginning'. The other options use the verb 始める (hajimeru) which means 'to start/begin (an action)' and is typically written with 始め.
What is the most natural English translation for 「初めの段階」?
「初めの段階」 (hajime no dankai) directly translates to 'the first stage' or 'the initial stage', emphasizing the very beginning of a process.
「初めまして」 uses the same '初め' as in 'beginning'.
「初めまして」 (hajimemashite) literally means 'it is the first time (we meet)', so it uses the 'beginning' sense of 初め.
You can use 「初め」 to say 'I will start studying Japanese'.
For 'I will start studying Japanese', you would typically use the verb 始める (hajimeru), not the noun 初め. For example, 「日本語の勉強を始めます。」
「最初」 and 「初め」 can always be used interchangeably.
While both mean 'first' or 'beginning', 「最初」 (saisho) is often more about 'the first one in a series' or 'the earliest point in time', whereas 「初め」 emphasizes the initial or very beginning state/period. They are not always interchangeable.
Write a short sentence describing your 'first' experience trying Japanese food, using the word 初め.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
初めて日本食を食べた時、とても美味しかった。
Describe the 'beginning' of a new hobby you started recently, incorporating 初め.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
新しい趣味を始めた初めは難しかったですが、今は楽しいです。
Imagine you are giving directions. Write a sentence telling someone where to start ('beginning') their journey.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
駅の初めから歩いてください。
田中さんはどんな人ですか？
Read this passage:
田中さんは、この会社の初めから働いています。彼女は会社の歴史をよく知っています。多くの新しい従業員が彼女に質問しに来ます。
田中さんはどんな人ですか？
田中さんは「この会社の初めから働いています」とあるので、設立当初からいる人だとわかります。
田中さんは「この会社の初めから働いています」とあるので、設立当初からいる人だとわかります。
物語は最初から面白かったですか？
Read this passage:
この物語の初めは少し退屈でしたが、途中からとても面白くなりました。主人公の旅が始まってからです。
物語は最初から面白かったですか？
「この物語の初めは少し退屈でしたが」とあるので、最初は面白くなかったことがわかります。
「この物語の初めは少し退屈でしたが」とあるので、最初は面白くなかったことがわかります。
プロジェクトの成功にとって何が重要でしたか？
Read this passage:
プロジェクトの初めに、私たちは目標を設定し、計画を立てました。これは成功のために非常に重要でした。もし計画がなければ、何から始めて良いかわからなかったでしょう。
プロジェクトの成功にとって何が重要でしたか？
「プロジェクトの初めに、私たちは目標を設定し、計画を立てました。これは成功のために非常に重要でした」と明確に書かれています。
「プロジェクトの初めに、私たちは目標を設定し、計画を立てました。これは成功のために非常に重要でした」と明確に書かれています。
このプロジェクトの___が最も重要です。 (The beginning of this project is the most important.)
文脈から「このプロジェクトの始まりが最も重要である」という意味が適切です。
会議は___に予定通り始まった。 (The meeting started on time from the beginning.)
「初めから」は、最初からという意味で、文脈に合致します。
物語の___で、主人公は故郷を離れる決意をする。 (At the beginning of the story, the protagonist decides to leave their hometown.)
物語の「始まり」で、主人公の決意が語られるという文脈が自然です。
新しい事業の___は常に困難を伴う。 (The beginning of a new business always involves difficulties.)
新しい事業の「始まり」は困難が伴う、という一般的な認識と合致します。
彼は___からその計画に反対していた。 (He was against that plan from the beginning.)
「初めから」は、最初からずっとという意味で、反対していた状況に合います。
この本は___から最後まで興味深い。 (This book is interesting from beginning to end.)
「初めから最後まで」は、全体を通してという意味で、文脈に最適です。
The speaker is describing a story.
The speaker is talking about a project.
This is a common greeting.
Read this aloud:
初めのうちは難しかったが、だんだん慣れてきた。
Focus: は じ め の う ち は む ず か し かっ た が だ ん だ ん な れ て き た
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
物語の初めに登場するキャラクターは、とても魅力的だ。
Focus: も の が た り の は じ め に と う じ ょ う す る き ゃ ら く たー は と て も み りょく てき だ
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
彼の初めの印象はあまり良くなかったが、後で誤解だと分かった。
Focus: か れ の は じ め の い ん しょう は あ ま り よ く な かっ た が あ と で ご かい だ と わ かっ た
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
パーティーの___に間に合うように急いだ。
「初め」は「始まり」を意味します。パーティーの開始時刻に間に合うように急いだ、という意味になります。
この小説の___は少し退屈だったが、途中から面白くなった。
文章や物語の「導入部分」や「始まり」を表す際に「初め」が適切です。
新しいプロジェクトの___は常に最も困難な部分だ。
プロジェクトの「開始」や「初期段階」を指す際に「初め」を使います。
「初め」は、ある出来事の開始点や物事の初期段階を指す。
「初め」はまさにその意味で使われます。
「初め」は常にポジティブな意味合いで使われる。
「初め」自体は中立的な言葉で、文脈によってポジティブにもネガティブにもなり得ます。例えば、「病気の初め」のように使われることもあります。
「初めまして」という挨拶の「初め」は、初めて会うことを意味する。
「初めまして」は「初めてお会いします」という挨拶であり、「初め」が初めての出会いを表しています。
This sentence structure emphasizes 'the beginning of their efforts' as 'a small step'.
Here, 'at the beginning of the plan' is followed by the necessity of 'thorough investigation'.
This sequence correctly states that 'from the beginning of the project, they faced problems'.
/ 54 correct
Perfect score!
संबंधित सामग्री
संबंधित मुहावरे
general के और शब्द
いくつか
B1An unspecified small number of things; some, a few.
ちょっと
A2A little; a moment; a bit. Small amount or short time.
すこし
A2A little; a few.
さっき
A2A little while ago; a short time past.
能力
A1Nouryoku refers to the mental or physical power, skill, or capacity required to perform a specific task or function. It can describe both innate talent and skills acquired through learning and practice.
異常
A1A word used to describe something that deviates from the normal state, standard, or expected pattern. It often implies a problem, malfunction, or an extraordinary occurrence that requires attention or investigation.
～について
A2About, concerning; indicates topic.
〜について
B1About, concerning; on the subject of.
～ぐらい
A2about, approximately
ぐらい
A2About; approximately; to the extent of.
