初 means “first, beginning”

はじめて · hajimete

Also: first time

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): はじめ, はじめて, はつ, うい-
On'yomi (Chinese reading): ショ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 4 · 7 strokes

The story

A knife (刀) cutting into cloth (衤): the first step in making any garment. 初めて is "for the first time," 最初 the very first, and 初詣 is the year's first shrine visit, made in the opening days of January.

Used in 初めて (hajimete, for the first time), 最初 (saisho, the very first), and 初詣 (hatsumoude, first shrine visit of the year)

初 means “first, beginning”

The story

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