The Meaning of hajimete [初めて] In Japanese

初めて
はじめて
Romaji: hajimete N5

What does 初めて mean?

Translation and Meaning

for the first time, first time, initial occurrence

Definition

初めて (hajimete) means “for the first time.” It signals that an action or experience occurred on the first occasion and had not happened before; in usage it functions adverbially to qualify verbs and can form attributive expressions when followed by の to indicate a person’s or event’s first instance.

Type

adverb (副詞), noun modifier with の (連体修飾)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • 1) used to convey a strong personal impression or emotional reaction upon experiencing something new, often followed by a comment about feelings.
  • 2) appears in contrasts to repeated actions to highlight uniqueness of a single occurrence rather than frequency.
  • 3) combined with temporal phrases to stress the first moment after a change or event (e.g., the first time since a prior point).
  • 4) in some contexts implies a tentative or tentative discovery tone—realizing something for the first time rather than reporting a planned first attempt.

Composition

  • 初 (hajime) — the character meaning “first” or “beginning,” carrying the core semantic element of the word.
  • て (te) — okurigana representing the te-form of the verb 初める (hajimeru); this verbal form creates an adverbial/attributive expression that yields the modern sense.

Usage

Common in both spoken and written Japanese across casual and polite registers; typically pairs with past-tense verbs to report personal experiences, can precede nouns as 初めて (hajimete) + の to describe a ‘first’ noun, and appears frequently in narratives, greetings, testimonials and conversations where someone describes having encountered or done something never before.
💡 Tips
Link hajime (hajime) with English “begin,” then add “-te” as a marker meaning “and so” — so 初めて (hajimete) = the moment something begins (the first time).

Variations

  • 最初 (saisho) — first, initially
  • 初回 (shokai) — first time/first session (often formal or commercial)
  • 初め (hajime) — beginning, start (noun form)
  • 二度目 (nidome) — second time (antonym)
  • 何度も (nando mo) — many times (opposite nuance)

Example Phrases

  • 今日は 初めての 自転車 整備 体験 に 参加した。
    Kyou wa hajimete no jitensha seibi taiken ni sanka shita.
    Today I participated in my first bicycle maintenance experience.
    Lista:
    • 今日は (Kyou wa) – today
    • 初めての (hajimete no) – first-time
    • 自転車 (jitensha) – bicycle
    • 整備 (seibi) – maintenance
    • 体験 (taiken) – experience
    • に (ni) – to
    • 参加した (sanka shita) – participated
    初 refers to ‘first’ and appears in 「初めての」 meaning ‘for the first time’.
  • 来日して初めて町の地図を見ながらバスに乗った。
    Rainichi shite hajimete machi no chizu o minagara basu ni notta.
    Having come to Japan for the first time, I rode a bus while looking at a city map.
    Lista:
    • 来日して (rainichi shite) – having come to Japan
    • 初めて (hajimete) – for the first time
    • 町の地図を (machi no chizu o) – the city map
    • 見ながら (minagara) – while looking
    • バスに (basu ni) – onto the bus
    • 乗った (notta) – rode
    Core grammar: the te-form of 「来日」 links actions, as in 来日して, to connect arrival with the bus ride.
  • 昨日 図書室で 文学の本を 初めて 借りてみました。
    Kinou toshoshitsu de bungaku no hon o hajimete karite mimashita.
    Yesterday at the library, I borrowed a literature book for the first time.
    Lista:
    • 昨日 図書室で 文学の本を 初めて 借りてみました (Kinou toshoshitsu de bungaku no hon o hajimete karite mimashita) – Yesterday at the library, I borrowed a literature book for the first time.
    核心は「で」で場所を示し、動作を試す意味の「〜てみました」 の組み合わせです。語としての 「文学」 は この文の 対象を指します。
  • 今日は海で潜水を初めて体験してみた。
    Kyou wa umi de sensui o hajimete taiken shite mita.
    Today I tried diving in the sea for the first time.
    Lista:
    • 今日は (Kyou wa) – today
    • 海で (Umi de) – in the sea
    • 潜水を (Sensui o) – diving
    • 初めて (Hajimete) – for the first time
    • 体験して (Taiken shite) – experiencing
    • みた (Mita) – tried
    潜水 is a noun meaning ‘diving’; here it is the object of 体験する, shown as 「潜水」を体験する meaning ‘to experience diving’. The pattern 体験してみた uses the te-form plus みる to express ‘tried doing’.
  • 二十歳 になって 初めて 一人で 買い物へ 行った。
    Hatachi ni natte hajimete hitori de kaimono e itta.
    I turned twenty and went shopping alone for the first time.
    Lista:
    • 二十歳 (hatachi) – age
    • になって (ni natte) – to become and connect
    • 初めて (hajimete) – for the first time
    • 一人で (hitori de) – alone
    • 買い物へ (kaimono e) – to go shopping
    • 行った (itta) – went
    In this sentence, 「二十歳」 marks turning twenty; 「になって」 is the te-form of なる, showing a change of state and linking to the next action.
初めて