起初

qǐ chū

HSK 2.0 Level 6 HSK 3.0 Level 6 Noun Uncommon

Save to list

Definitions

1. originally
2. at first
3. at the outset

Stop forgetting what you study.
Build recall daily.

Try HanyuGuide's Chinese review system with multiple choice, typed recall, tone-aware practice, and reviews scheduled before memory fades.

Start Free Trial · $9.99 / year

Sign up with Google

Continue with Email

Lifetime for $19.99 Try the 30-second demo

Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 后来 hòu lái 后来 hòu lái meaning 'afterwards', 'later': meaning 'afterwards', 'later'

Synonyms

1 item

• 最初 zuì chū 最初 zuì chū first meaning 'initially', 'at the very beginning': first

Usage notes

Collocations

Often used at the beginning of a sentence or clause to indicate the initial state, contrasting with a later development.

Common mistakes

Avoid using 起初 when referring to a person's initial state; use 本来 (e.g., 本来我就不同意) for inherent qualities or previous plans.

Example Sentences

4 shown

起初 ，他不太习惯。

At first, he wasn't quite used to it.

起初 ，他不會說英語。

Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 811697)

起初 我沒認出他來。

Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 848424)

起初 她不喜歡馬。

Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 894364)

Sentence data courtesy of Tatoeba.org. AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 起初

• 起 起 qǐ: (for groups or occurrences) instance, time
• 初 初 chū: at first