HSK 3 · Chinese hanzi

初

初 — beginning

Reading
chū
Meaning
beginning; first
HSK level
HSK 3
Language
Chinese

About this hanzi

初 is a chinese hanzi character commonly studied at the HSK 3 level. Its primary reading is chū and it means beginning; first. To master it, see it in real Chinese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.

初 appears in everyday chinese words such as 初 (beginning, initial), 初中 (junior high school) and 最初 (initial, first, earliest).

Chinese words containing 初

Frequently asked questions

What does 初 mean in Chinese?

初 means beginning; first in Chinese. It is one of the HSK 3 hanzi every learner meets at that level.

How is 初 read?

初 is read chū. Reading it inside real words — 初 and 初中 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.

What level is 初 — is it HSK 3?

Yes. 初 is on the official HSK 3 hanzi list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.

How do you use 初 in a word?

A common word containing 初 is 初 (chū) — "beginning, initial". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.

How do I learn 初 effectively?

Read it in context. Import any Chinese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 初 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.

More HSK 3 hanzi

Learn every HSK hanzi in context

InputDojo gives you the full HSK 1–9 hanzi list — plus one-tap lookups in any real Chinese content. Free to start.

Start free