当初 (dāngchū) · at first

当初 (dāngchū) means “at first; originally; back then”. It is written with 2 characters: 当 (to be) + 初 (first (as in 初一)). It is an HSK 3 word in the 2021 standard.

How 当初 is built

The characters

当 dāng · to be

What 当 is made of

⺌ — structural part
彐jì — snout
- 二 — two strokes
  - 一 — horizontal stroke
  - 一 — horizontal stroke

初 chū · first (as in 初一)

What 初 is made of

衤yī — clothing
刀dāo — knife
- 丿 — falling stroke

Origin hint: Cutting 刀 the cloth 衤 is the first step in making clothes (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

Example sentences

当初我不同意他的看法。Dāngchū wǒ bù tóngyì tā de kànfǎ.At first I didn't agree with his view.

你当初为什么来中国？Nǐ dāngchū wèishénme lái Zhōngguó?Why did you come to China in the first place?

Questions about 当初

What does 当初 mean?

当初 (dāngchū) means “at first; originally; back then”.

How do you pronounce 当初?

当初 is pronounced dāngchū.

Which HSK level is 当初?

当初 is in HSK 3 (2021) and Old HSK 6.

Related words

Learn 当初 with its group

It is part of HSK 3 (2021) · Group 39: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.

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