at first; initially
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesnoun
at first; in the beginning; initially
formalOften used to describe the initial stage of an event or situation. More common in written language.
Qǐ起
shǒu首
wǒ我
bìng并
bù不
huì会
xià下
qí棋
，
shì是
tā他
jiào教
wǒ我
de的
。
Initially, I didn't know how to play chess; it was he who taught me.
Zhè这
ge个
gù故
shi事
qǐ起
shǒu首
hěn很
píng平
dàn淡
，
dàn但
hòu后
miàn面
fēi非
cháng常
jīng精
cǎi彩
。
The story was rather bland at first, but it became very exciting later.
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Qǐ起
shǒu首
dà大
jiā家
dōu都
bù不
shú熟
xī悉
，
hòu后
lái来
chéng成
le了
hǎo好
péng朋
you友
。
At first, nobody knew each other well, but later they became good friends.
Jì计
huà划
qǐ起
shǒu首
jìn进
zhǎn展
shùn顺
lì利
，
dàn但
yù遇
dào到
le了
yì意
xiǎng想
bú不
dào到
de的
kùn困
nan难
。
The plan progressed smoothly at first, but encountered unexpected difficulties.
Qǐ起
shǒu首
de的
jǐ几
yè页
shì是
běn本
shū书
de的
xù序
yán言
。
The first few pages are the preface of the book.