KanjiSchool
初
初 (readings: しょ, はじ, はつ, うい; Japanese kanji) means “first / beginning”. 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).
What does 初 mean?
| Kanji | 初 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | first / beginning |
| Readings | しょ, はじ, はつ, うい |
| Grade | Grade 4 (Upper) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 初
初 is read しょ or はじ or はつ or うい depending on the word.
Example words with 初
| Example | 初めて (for the first time) |
|---|
Practice writing 初 — free
See 初's stroke order, take a quiz, and add it to your spaced-repetition review. KanjiSchool teaches all 1,026 Kyōiku kanji through real stories and news.
Start free — no credit card →
Updated: 2026-07-14