初

chū
#666 most
frequent character
prefix (first grade of junior high school )
adjective

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

初 joins 衤 cloth with 刀 knife, so it first meant 'to begin cutting cloth for clothes'. From that came 'to begin' and 'at first'. The final 'first' sense grew from there.

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Example Sentences

这是我初中时期的照片。
zhè shì wǒ chūzhōng shíqī de zhàopiān 。
This is a photo from my junior high school period.
我现在在初中上学。
wǒ xiànzài zài chūzhōng shàngxué 。
I am currently studying in junior high school.
他是初中的学生。
tāshì chūzhōng de xuéshēng 。
He is a student in junior high school.

Words with similar meanings

开始的kāishǐde
initial
This synonym emphasizes the beginning stage of something, similar to '初'.

Words Starting With 初

初级chū jí
junior; primary
初步chū bù
initial; preliminary; tentative

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