earliest period; beginning; initially
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesnoun
the earliest period; the beginning; the initial stage
Functions as a temporal noun referring to the earliest point in time. Can also function adverbially to mean 'at first' or 'initially' when placed before verbs.
Nà那
lǐ里
zuì最
chū初
hái还
shì是
bù不
máo毛
zhī之
dì地
。
In the beginning, that place was still barren land.
Wǒ我
zuì最
chū初
rèn认
shi识
tā他
shì是
zài在
shàng上
zhōng中
xué学
de的
shí时
hou候
。
I first met him when I was in middle school.
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Gōng公
sī司
zuì最
chū初
zhǐ只
yǒu有
sān三
míng名
yuán员
gōng工
。
The company initially had only three employees.
Zuì最
chū初
de的
jì计
huà划
yǐ已
jīng经
gǎi改
biàn变
le了
。
The original plan has already changed.
Rén人
lèi类
zuì最
chū初
de的
wén文
míng明
qǐ起
yuán源
yú于
dà大
hé河
liú流
yù域
。
Humanity's earliest civilizations originated in river valleys.