最初

Meaning(distinguishing word, adverb)

first; primary; initial; original; at first; initially; originally

Examples

• 最初我听不懂老师的话。

  zuì chū wǒ tīng bù dǒng lǎo shī de huà.

  At first I couldn't understand the teacher.

• 这是我们最初的计划。

  zhè shì wǒ men zuì chū de jì huà.

  This was our original plan.

• 公司最初只有五个员工。

  gōng sī zuì chū zhǐ yǒu wǔ gè yuán gōng.

  The company started with only five employees.

Easily confused

• 起初 — Close to 起初, 当初; 最初 can also modify a noun: 最初的想法.

Written with AI, waiting for a teacher's review.