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初心者 (しょしんしゃ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

初しょ心しん者しゃ

しょ

し

ん

しゃ

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

noun

beginner; novice

Neutral term for someone new to a skill, activity, or field. Often used in contrast with 経験者 or 上級者.

私わたしはまだ初しょ心しん者しゃなので、ゆっくり教おしえてください。
I'm still a beginner, so please teach me slowly.
このコースは初しょ心しん者

しゃ

向む

け

に

設せっ

計けい

さ

れ

て

い

ます

。

This course is designed for beginners.

Kanji

初first time, beginning
心heart, mind, spirit
者someone, person

Similar words

初しょ級きゅう者しゃ
初級者 emphasizes a low proficiency level in a structured system (e.g., language classes), while 初心者 is a broader term for anyone new to something.
新しん米まい
新米 is a more casual, often self-deprecating term for a newcomer, especially in a workplace or role, whereas 初心者 is neutral and skill-focused.

Etymology

Compound of 初 (しょ, 'first') + 心 (しん, 'mind') + 者 (しゃ, 'person'), literally 'first-mind person'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning 'beginner'.