JLPT N3 · Japanese kanji
初 — first time
- Reading
- ショ・はじ.め・はじ.めて・はつ・はつ\~・うい\~・\~そ.める・\~ぞ.め
- Meaning
- first time; beginning
- JLPT level
- N3
- Language
- Japanese
About this kanji
初 is a japanese kanji character commonly studied at the JLPT N3 level. Its primary reading is ショ・はじ.め・はじ.めて・はつ・はつ\~・うい\~・\~そ.める・\~ぞ.め and it means first time; beginning. To master it, see it in real Japanese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.
初 appears in everyday japanese words such as 初 (first), 初版 (first edition) and 初耳 (something heard for the first time).
Japanese words containing 初
Frequently asked questions
What does 初 mean in Japanese?
初 means first time; beginning in Japanese. It is one of the JLPT N3 kanji every learner meets at that level.
How is 初 read?
初 is read ショ・はじ.め・はじ.めて・はつ・はつ\~・うい\~・\~そ.める・\~ぞ.め. Reading it inside real words — 初 and 初版 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.
What level is 初 — is it JLPT N3?
Yes. 初 is on the official JLPT N3 kanji 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 (はつ) — "first". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.
How do I learn 初 effectively?
Read it in context. Import any Japanese 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 JLPT N3 kanji
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