also: はつふゆ
adverb, noun
early winter
Refers to the beginning of winter, typically around November in the modern calendar. Used both as a noun and adverbially.
初冬の風が冷たく感じられる。
The early winter wind feels cold.
初冬、山々は初雪を迎える。
In early winter, the mountains receive their first snow.
adverb, noun
tenth month of the lunar calendar
Obsolete term referring to the tenth month of the traditional lunar calendar, roughly corresponding to early winter.
旧暦では、初冬は十月を指した。
In the old lunar calendar, 初冬 referred to the tenth month.
Compound of 初 (sho, 'first') and 冬 (tō, 'winter'). The reading はつふゆ uses the native Japanese reading for both characters.