最初（さいしょ）
JLPT N4 · noun
Pitch accent: heiban (flat) — starts low, stays high, no drop
Meaning: first/beginning
Example sentences
- 最初はうまくいかなかった。 — It didn't go well at first.
- 最初にルールを説明します。 — First, I'll explain the rules.
Related words
See it used in real works
- Example sentences from Japanese novels & web fiction (Massif)
- Hear “最初” pronounced in real videos (YouGlish)