初め

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
初
はじ Grade: 4
kun'yomi

For pronunciation and definitions of 初め – see the following entry.

【始はじめ】

[noun] (especially 初め) beginning, the start of an activity or time period

[noun] (especially 始め) origin, beginning of a thing

[interjection] begin! used to announce the start of a race, an exam, and others

[verb] imperfective and stem (or continuative) forms of 始める (hajimeru) [ichidan]

Alternative spellings
一め, 創め, 首め

(This term, 初め, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
初
そ Grade: 4
kun'yomi

The 連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 初(そ)める (someru, “an action begins or is begun; such an action or its result continues for a long time”, auxiliary verb attaching to another verb in the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”)),^[1]^[2] in turn likely cognate with 染める (someru, “to dye something”, when used as an auxiliary, “to do something deeply or thoroughly”).^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [so̞me̞]

Verb

初(そ)め • (some)

imperfective and stem (or continuative) forms of 初める (someru) [ichidan]

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
初
そ > ぞ Grade: 4
kun'yomi

Alternative spelling
初 (uncommon)

Shift from 初(そ)め (some) above. The so changes to zo as an instance of rendaku (連濁).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [d͡zo̞me̞]

Pitch accent is determined by the entire suffixed term.

Suffix

初(ぞ)め • (-zome)

for the first time, typically in the current year

Derived terms

書(か)き初(ぞ)め (kakizome, “kakizome (the first calligraphy written at the beginning of a year)”)

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 “初”, in 日本国語大辞典 [Nihon Kokugo Daijiten]‎^[1] (in Japanese), concise edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2006
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
^ Shinmura, Izuru, editor (1998), 広辞苑 [Kōjien] (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, →ISBN
^ “初める”, in デジタル大辞泉 [Digital Daijisen]‎^[2] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, updated roughly every four months

[KDJ2-1] 1.0 ^1.1 “初”, in 日本国語大辞典 [Nihon Kokugo Daijiten]‎^[1] (in Japanese), concise edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2006

[DJR-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[K-3] Shinmura, Izuru, editor (1998), 広辞苑 [Kōjien] (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, →ISBN

[DDJS-4] “初める”, in デジタル大辞泉 [Digital Daijisen]‎^[2] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, updated roughly every four months

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