Chinese–EnglishWith examples

起初

qǐ chū · qi chu

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 7–9Old HSK 6

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. originally; at first; at the outset
Embed this word

Put this word on your class page or blog. Keep the link under the frame, so people can find the word. More widgets

In a conversation

0:23 cartoon

At first I did not like it

  1. Dengdeng

    起初(qǐchū)我(wǒ)不(bù)喜欢(xǐhuan)跑步(pǎobù)，觉得(juéde)太(tài)累(lèi)。

    At first I did not like running. I thought it was too tiring.

  2. Liangliang

    那(nà)你(nǐ)现在(xiànzài)为什么(wèishénme)每天(měitiān)跑(pǎo)？

    Then why do you run every day now?

  3. Dengdeng

    起初(qǐchū)只(zhǐ)跑(pǎo)五分钟(wǔfēnzhōng)，现在(xiànzài)能(néng)跑(pǎo)半小时(bànxiǎoshí)。

    At first I ran only five minutes. Now I can run half an hour.

  4. Liangliang

    真(zhēn)厉害(lìhai)！你(nǐ)一定(yīdìng)很(hěn)喜欢(xǐhuan)了(le)。

    Wow! You must really like it now.

  5. Dengdeng

    其实(qíshí)还(hái)是(shì)不(bù)喜欢(xǐhuan)，但(dàn)跑完(pǎowán)可以(kěyǐ)吃(chī)早饭(zǎofàn)。

    Not really, but after running I get breakfast.

  6. Liangliang

    原来(yuánlái)你(nǐ)是(shì)为了(wèile)早饭(zǎofàn)啊(a)！

    So you do it for breakfast!

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

起(qǐ)初(chū)我(wǒ)们(men)并(bìng)不(bù)熟(shú)悉(xī)，渐(jiàn)渐(jiàn)地(de)就(jiù)熟(shú)悉(xī)起(qǐ)来(lái)了(le)。

At first, we weren't familiar at all. Over time we got to know each other.

Tatoeba: Chinese by egg0073 · English by emmettricks · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

02

起(qǐ)初(chū)我(wǒ)以(yǐ)为(wéi)这(zhè)道(dào)题(tí)很(hěn)简(jiǎn)单(dān)，做(zuò)起(qǐ)来(lái)才(cái)发(fā)现(xiàn)并(bìng)不(bù)容(róng)易(yì)。

At first I thought this problem was very simple, but once I started doing it I found it wasn't easy at all.

Sources & licenses

How to write

Stroke order & practice

Choose a character to watch its strokes or trace it yourself.

Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

Browse all wordsExplore words in context