Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

劈頭 (へきとう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

劈へき頭とう

へ

き

と

う

Meanings

1

beginning; outset; opening; start

Literary noun for the very beginning or opening of something; often used in formal or written contexts. Not common in everyday speech.

劈へき頭とうから議ぎ論ろんが白はく熱ねつした。
The debate heated up right from the start.

Kanji

劈break, tear, split
頭head, counter for large animals

Related words

最さい初しょ
最初 is the common, everyday word for 'beginning' or 'first'. 劈頭 is a formal, literary synonym used mainly in writing.
冒ぼう頭とう
冒頭 also means 'beginning' or 'opening', especially of a speech or text, and is more common than 劈頭 but still somewhat formal.

Word family

彼かれの演えん説ぜつは劈へき頭とうから聴ちょう衆しゅうを引ひきつけた。

His speech captivated the audience from the very beginning.

劈へき頭とう第だい一いち
at the very beginning; first and foremost
開かい巻かん劈へき頭とう
very beginning of a book

Etymology

Compound of 劈 (へき, 'to split open; to begin') and 頭 (とう, 'head; start'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is a Sino-Japanese coinage used in literary contexts.