最初
HSK 4 (2021)Old HSK 5
最初 (zuìchū) · at first
最初 (zuìchū) means “at first; initial; first”. It is written with 2 characters: 最 (most) + 初 (first (as in 初一)). It is an HSK 4 word in the 2021 standard.
How 最初 is built
The characters
最 zuì · most
What 最 is made of
- 日rì — sun; day
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 取qǔ — to take
- 耳ěr — ear
- 二 — two strokes
- 又yòu — and
- 耳ěr — ear
Origin hint: To take place 取 under the sun 日 (that is, everywhere) (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
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
最初我不喜欢吃辣的。Zuìchū wǒ bù xǐhuan chī là de.At first I didn't like spicy food.
你最初的想法是什么？Nǐ zuìchū de xiǎngfǎ shì shénme?What was your initial idea?
Questions about 最初
What does 最初 mean?
最初 (zuìchū) means “at first; initial; first”.
How do you pronounce 最初?
最初 is pronounced zuìchū.
Which HSK level is 最初?
最初 is in HSK 4 (2021) and Old HSK 5.
Related words
- 最好zuìhǎobest
- 最后zuìhòulast
- 最近zuìjìnrecently
- 最终zuìzhōngfinal
- 最zuìmost
- 初步chūbùinitial
- 初级chūjíelementary
- 初中chūzhōngjunior high school
- 当初dāngchūat first
- 年初niánchūbeginning of the year
Learn 最初 with its group
It is part of HSK 4 (2021) · Group 97: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.