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まず (mazu) Japanese meaning: first of all | Kotomora
じ 字
Meanings Jump to a sense… 1. first of all; firstly; to begin with 2. probably; most likely; almost certainly 3. more or less; on the whole; reasonably 4. anyway; at any rate; for now Report an issue with this page
しゅく
題だい
を
終お
わら
せよう
。
First of all, let's finish the homework.
Before cooking, please wash your hands first.
Usage patterns まず 〈 動どう 詞し 〉 、 それから 〈 動どう 詞し 〉 first do one thing, then do another
First wash your hands, then let's eat.
まず 〈 事こと 〉 はないだろう it's almost certainly not the case that...
This plan is almost certainly not going to fail.
まず 〈 動どう 詞し 〉 てみる to try doing something first, as a provisional step
Let's try it first, and rethink if it doesn't work out.
Expressions 甘井先かんせいま ず 竭つ く the flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long; the well with sweet water will be the first to run dry まず 隗かい より 始はじ めよ start with the first step; begin with what is at hand · the one who proposes should act first; lead by example 将しょう を 射い んと 欲ほっ すれば 先ま ず 馬うま を 射い よ if you want to shoot the general, first shoot his horse; do not shoot straight for the top; he that would the daughter win, must with the mother first begin Related words· 7 とりあえず stresses a quick, temporary measure taken without much thought, while まず often marks a logical first step in a sequence.
いちおう suggests doing something 'just in case' or for form's sake, whereas まず in this sense means something is acceptable to a reasonable degree.
おそらく is a more formal way to express strong probability, while まず in this sense is a lighter, more conversational way to say something is almost certain.
たぶん is the everyday, casual word for 'probably', while まず in this sense adds a stronger nuance of near certainty.
Show 3 more まず is a plain adverb meaning 'first' used to introduce a point, while 第一 in its adverbial use adds a slightly more formal or emphatic 'above all' tone.
まず is a casual, everyday way to say 'first of all', while 初めに is slightly more formal and often used in writing or speeches.
まず is the plain form meaning 'first of all', while まずは adds emphasis, stressing that this step must precede everything else.
Word family first of all; to begin with; before anything else · probably; most likely; almost certainly · more or less satisfactory; on the whole; reasonably · anyway; at any rate; for now
for now; for the time being; for the present · after a fashion; more or less; not quite satisfactorily
so-so; passable; tolerable; adequate
first of all; in the first place; to begin with
Written forms まず Usage 97%
Standard kana spelling; the kanji form 先ず is rare and literary.
先ま ず Usage 3%
Kanji form; rarely used in modern writing, mostly in older texts.
マズ Usage <1%
Etymology The origin is uncertain, but it is a native Japanese adverb. The kanji 先 (before) and ず (negation) are ateji, and the word is not derived from them.
