initially; at first; in the beginning
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesnoun
initially; at first; in the beginning
neutralUsed to describe a situation, feeling, or action that existed at the start of a process, often contrasting with a later change.
Qǐ起
chū初
wǒ我
bù不
tóng同
yì意
，
hòu后
lái来
cái才
jué觉
de得
tā他
shuō说
de的
yǒu有
dào道
lǐ理
。
I disagreed at first, but later came to see the sense in what he said.
Qǐ起
chū初
tā他
yī一
gè个
zì字
bù不
shí识
，
xiàn现
zài在
yǐ已
jīng经
néng能
kàn看
bào报
xiě写
xìn信
le了
。
He couldn't read a single character at first, but now he can read newspapers and write letters.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
Gōng公
sī司
qǐ起
chū初
zhǐ只
yǒu有
sān三
gè个
rén人
。
The company had only three people initially.
Qǐ起
chū初
de的
jì计
huá划
bù不
shì是
zhè这
yàng样
de的
。
The original plan wasn't like this.
Qǐ起
chū初
wǒ我
yǐ以
wéi为
hěn很
róng容
yì易
，
zuò做
qǐ起
lái来
cái才
fā发
xiàn现
hěn很
fù复
zá杂
。
I thought it was easy at first, but when I started doing it, I realized it was complicated.