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初歩 (しょほ, shoho) Japanese meaning: basics | Kotomora

初しょ歩ほ

しょ

ほ

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

basics; rudiments; first steps

Refers to the introductory or elementary level of a subject or skill. Often used in phrases like 初歩の～ (elementary ～) or 初歩から (from the basics).

彼かれは英えい語ごの初しょ歩ほを学まなんでいる。

He is learning the basics of English.

この本ほんはプログラミングの初しょ歩ほを説せつ明めいしている。

This book explains the rudiments of programming.

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉の初しょ歩ほthe basics of ~
料りょう理りの初しょ歩ほを学まなぶことにした。
I decided to learn the basics of cooking.
初しょ歩ほの〈事こと〉elementary ~ (of a subject)
初しょ歩ほの英えい語ごから始はじめましょう。
Let's start from elementary English.
初しょ歩ほから〈動どう詞し〉to (do something) starting from the basics
初しょ歩ほから練れん習しゅうし直なおすことにした。
I decided to practice again starting from the basics.

Expressions

初しょ歩ほの初しょ歩ほabsolute basics; very rudiments

Kanji

初first time, beginning
歩walk, counter for steps

Related words

基き礎そN3
基礎 refers to the broader, systematic foundation of a subject, while 初歩 emphasizes the very first, elementary steps a learner takes.
入にゅう門もんN3
入門 usually names an introductory course or book for beginners, whereas 初歩 refers directly to the elementary content or level itself.
初しょ級きゅうN3
初級 is used as a formal classification level (e.g. in textbooks or courses), while 初歩 is a more general word for the earliest, basic stage of learning.
いろはN1
初歩 emphasizes the very first, elementary steps of learning something, whereas いろは refers to the whole set of fundamental building blocks one must master.
ＡＢＣ
ＡＢＣ and 初歩 both mean the rudiments of a subject, but 初歩 is a plain Japanese word while ＡＢＣ carries a slightly more colloquial, borrowed feel.

Opposites

上じょう級きゅうN3
上級 means an advanced level, the opposite end of the scale from 初歩, which means the elementary, beginning level.

Don't confuse with

初しょ心しんN1
初心 shares the kanji 初 with 初歩 but means a beginner's resolve or original intention, not the elementary level of a subject.

Word family

初しょ歩ほ的てき
elementary; basic; rudimentary

Etymology

Compound of 初 (first, beginning) and 歩 (step, walk), literally 'first steps'.