初
Character
the beginning (as in 月初, the start of the month)
Meaning
chū
chu1- the beginning (as in 月初, the start of the month)
- first (as in 初中, middle school)
- days one to ten of a lunar month (as in 初三, the third)
Examples
月初我很忙。
yuè chū wǒ hěn máng
I am very busy at the beginning of the month.
AI-generated sentence
我初中开始学汉语。
wǒ chū zhōng kāi shǐ xué hàn yǔ
I started learning Chinese in middle school.
AI-generated sentence
我们初三去看电影。
wǒ men chū sān qù kàn diàn yǐng
We will go to see a movie on the third (of the lunar month).
AI-generated sentence
Stroke order
All 7 strokes
Speed
Practice writing 初
Draw “初” here — the faint guide shows its shape.
Words with 初
See all 94 →初中chū zhōngjunior high school; middle school (for students aged about 12–15)WordHSK 3初步chū bùat the beginning stage; not yet final or completeWordHSK 3初级chū jíbeginner; at the basic or easiest level of somethingWordHSK 3初期chū qīthe early part or beginning of a period of timeWordHSK 5初等chū děngelementary; at the first and most basic levelWordHSK 6初次chū cìfor the first timeWordHSK 7–9初衷chū zhōngWhat you wanted to do at the very beginning; your first goal.WordHSK 7–9初一chū yīfirst year in junior middle schoolWord初三chū sānthird year in junior middle schoolWord初二chū èrsecond year in junior middle schoolWord初伏chū fúthe first of the three annual periods of hot weather (三伏 (sān fú)), which typically begins in mid-July and lasts 10 daysWord初估chū gūto make a preliminary estimateWord