| term | pronunciation | English |
|---|
| 初冬 | しょとう | early winter |
| 初めて | はじめて | for the first time |
| 初夏 | しょか | early summer |
| 初め/始め | はじめ | beginning, start (expr) |
| 初旬 | しょじゅん | first 10 days of the month |
| 最初 | さいしょ | beginning, first |
| 初 | はつ | first, new |
| 初代 | しょだい | first generation, founder |
| 初場所 | はつばしょ | New Year's (January) sumo tournament, held in Tokyo |
| 初孫 | ういまご, はつまご | first grandchild |
| 初巳 | はつみ | first Serpent day of the year |
| 初恋 | はつこい | first love, puppy love |
| 初戦 | しょせん | first match (in a series) |
| 初日 | しょにち | first or opening day |
| 初期 | しょき | early (days), initial stage; initial |
| 初演 | しょえん | first performance |
| 初版 | しょはん | first edition |
| 初耳 | はつみみ | something heard for the first time (lit: first ear) |
| 初舞台 | はつぶたい | debut, initial stage appearance |
| 初診 | しょしん | initial medical examination |
| 初誕生 | はつたんじょう | first birthday |
| 初陣 | ういじん | first campaign, one's first battle |
| 当初 | とうしょ | at first |