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最初 (zuì chū) — the beginning; the initial stage; originally

Definition

Names the very first stage or point in time ('the beginning, initially'). More like 起初 and 当初, which both mean 'at first'; 最初 is the most common and neutral.

noun
the beginningthe initial stageoriginally

Examples

  • 最初，。
    zuì chū, Wǒ bù xǐ huan zhè ge gōng zuò.
    At first, I didn't like this job.
  • 最初。
    Zhè shì zuì chū de xiǎng fǎ.
    This is the original idea.
  • 最初，。
    Cóng zuì chū dào xiàn zài, tā yì zhí hěn nǔ lì.
    From the beginning until now, he has always worked hard.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

最zuìmost
初chūbeginning

最 “most” and 初 “beginning” together mean the very first stage.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
取
取qǔ最zuì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape pairs 取, which gives the sound, with a roof-like top from 宀; marks above were later added to separate the “most” meaning.

Open 最 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

初 combines 衤 (clothes) and 刀 (knife), showing the start of making clothes by cutting cloth.

Open 初 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Time (Abstract)5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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