also: うい
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun, noun, used as a prefix, noun, used as a suffix
Used as a noun, prefix, suffix, or with の to mean the first instance of something, a new beginning, or something done for the first time. Common in compounds like 初恋 (first love), 初めて (for the first time), and 初日 (first day).
初の海外旅行はとても楽しかった。
My first trip abroad was really enjoyable.
初の試みとして、オンラインで会議を開いた。
As a first attempt, we held the meeting online.
彼は初対面の人と話すのが苦手だ。
He is not good at talking with people he meets for the first time.
She won her first-ever gold medal.
This award is a first for the company.
first shrine visit of the New Year
for the first time · something used for the first time; new item · first of the season
first snow of the season; first snowfall
first ride; maiden ride · base fare; minimum fare; starting fare
first of the season · virgin
first ears of rice; first harvest of the season · offering to the gods; first-fruits offering
first stock quotation of the New Year · initial public offering price; IPO price
first Bon Festival after a death
baby's first seasonal festival
first Serpent day of the year
first dream of the New Year · dream on the night of Setsubun
first frost of the year
first championship win
debut; first public showing; opening
debut; first appearance
debut; first stage appearance
for the first time
first lull of the year; New Year's calm
first animal sound of the year; first seasonal animal sound
first wearing of a kimono in the New Year
Rare reading; appears mainly in fixed compounds such as ういざん (初産) or ういういしい (初々しい). Not used as a standalone noun in modern Japanese.