noun
Refers to the very beginning of an activity or undertaking. Often used in the phrase 仕初めに meaning 'at the start' or 'first of all'. Similar to 手始め.
See also: 手始め
仕初めに、自己紹介をお願いします。
To start with, please introduce yourself.
仕初めは誰でも緊張するものだ。
Everyone gets nervous at the beginning.
noun
resuming work after New Year's
Specifically refers to the first day back at work after the New Year holiday. Often used in the compound 仕事始め, but 仕初め alone can carry this meaning in context.
See also: 仕事始め
今日は仕初めで、会社に行く。
Today is the first day back at work after New Year's, so I'm going to the office.
仕初めの日は、みんなで新年の挨拶を交わす。
On the day we resume work after New Year's, everyone exchanges New Year greetings.
手始め also means 'outset' or 'first step', but is more common and often used in the phrase 手始めに. 仕初め is less frequent and can sound slightly more formal or literary.
仕事始め is the standard term for 'resuming work after New Year's'. 仕初め can be used with the same meaning but is less explicit and may require context.
Compound of 仕 (し, continuative form of する 'to do') and 初め (ぞめ, rendaku form of はじめ 'beginning'). Literally 'doing-beginning'.