手て始はじめ

て

は

じ

め

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

Refers to the very first step or initial stage of an activity, often with a nuance of 'to begin with' or 'as a start'. Commonly used in phrases like 手始めに.

手て始はじめに、簡かん単たんな自じ己こ紹しょう介かいをしましょう。
To start with, let's do a simple self-introduction.
彼かれは手て始はじめとして、近きん所じょの掃そう除じから始はじめた。
He began by cleaning up the neighborhood as a first step.

See all 6 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

手て始はじめに〈動どう詞し〉to start off by doing ~, as a first step
手て始はじめに簡かん単たんな問もん題だいから解といてみましょう。
Let's start off by solving the easy questions first.
〈事こと〉を手て始はじめとしてusing ~ as the starting point (for a larger undertaking)
このプロジェクトを手て始はじめとして、会かい社しゃは海かい外がい展てん開かいを進すすめる予よ定ていだ。
Starting with this project, the company plans to move forward with overseas expansion.

Kanji

手hand
始commence, begin

Related words

最さい初しょN4
最初 is the general, neutral word for 'the first time' or 'the beginning' of anything, while 手始め specifically points to a deliberate first step taken to start an activity.
始はじめN5
初め is a broad, everyday word for the beginning of something, whereas 手始め implies a chosen first action meant to kick off a longer process.
発ほっ端たんN1
発端 refers to the origin or triggering event behind a situation, often unplanned, while 手始め is a deliberate first step someone takes to begin a task.
第だい一いっ歩ぽ
第一歩 suggests a meaningful step in a longer journey or process, while 手始め is a lighter, more casual word for 'the first thing one does'.

Opposites

仕し上あげN1
仕上げ is the finishing touch or final stage of a task, the opposite end from 手始め, the initial step.

Word family

手て始はじめに
at first; to begin with; as a first step

Built from

手て+始はじめる

Etymology

Compound of 手 (hand, method) and 始め (beginning). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it likely developed from the idea of 'starting with one's hands' or 'the first hand in a task'.