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初
“first / beginning” in Japanese is 初, read sho, haji, hatsu (しょ, はじ, はつ, うい). It is a Grade 4 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 4 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 初めて (for the first time).
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What does 初 mean?
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初めて海を見た。
はじめてうみをみた。I saw the sea for the first time.
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Full details, readings & example
| Kanji | 初 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | first / beginning |
| Readings | しょ, はじ, はつ, うい |
| Grade | Grade 4 (Upper) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
| Example | 初めて (for the first time) |
How to read 初
初 is read sho (しょ) or haji (はじ) or hatsu (はつ) or ui (うい) depending on the word.
Words with 初
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Kanji read the same way as 初
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:
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Updated: 2026-08-28