初しょ等とう

しょ

と

う

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

noun-modifying (irregular)

Prenominal adjective used in formal or educational contexts to describe the first stage of something, especially education.

初しょ等とう教きょう育いくはすべての子こどもの基き礎そとなる。
Elementary education is the foundation for all children.
初しょ等とう関かん数すうの微び分ぶんを復ふく習しゅうした。
I reviewed the differentiation of elementary functions.

Kanji

初first time, beginning
等etc., and so forth, class (first)

Opposites

高こう等とうN2
初等 means elementary or primary (e.g. 初等教育), the direct opposite of 高等's advanced or higher level (高等教育).

Don't confuse with

初しょ頭とう
初等 (same pronunciation) means 'elementary' as in 初等教育 (elementary education), while 初頭 refers to the early part of a time period like a century or era.

Word family

初しょ等とう科か
elementary course; primary department
初しょ等とう教きょう育いく
elementary education; primary education
初しょ等とう数すう学がく
elementary mathematics
初しょ等とう関かん数すう
elementary function
初しょ等とう幾き何か学がく
elementary geometry

Etymology

Compound of 初 (first, beginning) and 等 (class, grade). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with 'elementary' or 'primary' level.