chū

初

HSK 3Character · Adjective · Noun · Adverb · Proper noun

initial; first; beginning; lowest grade

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

8 senses · 37 examples
1.

adjective

initial; beginning; first

Used to describe the start of a season or time period.

Chū初
xià夏
de的
shí时
hou候
tiān天
qì气
yǐ已
jīng经
màn慢
màn慢
biàn变
rè热
le了
 。

The weather has gradually gotten hotter in early summer.

Chū初
dōng冬
de的
qīng清
chén晨
zǒng总
shì是
dài带
zhe着
nóng浓
nóng浓
de的
wù雾
qì气
 。

There is always thick fog on early winter mornings.

Show 3 more examples
Chū初
chūn春
de的
liǔ柳
shù树
gāng刚
gāng刚
chōu抽
chū出
nèn嫩
yá芽
 。

Willows just sprout tender buds in early spring.

Chū初
qiū秋
de的
wǎn晚
fēng风
dài带
zhe着
yī一
sī丝
liáng凉
yì意
 。

The early autumn evening breeze carries a slight chill.

Jīn今
nián年
chū初
xià夏
wǒ我
men们
jì计
huà划
qù去
hǎi海
biān边
dù度
jià假
 。

We plan to go to the beach for vacation in early summer this year.

2.

noun

initial period; early stage

Often used with time nouns like year, month, or course.

Xīn新
nián年
chū初
dà大
jiā家
dōu都
lì立
xià下
le了
xīn新
de的
mù目
biāo标
 。

Everyone set new goals at the start of the new year.

Yuè月
chū初
wǒ我
huì会
shōu收
dào到
gōng公
sī司
fā发
fàng放
de的
gōng工
zī资
 。

I will receive my salary at the beginning of the month.

Show 3 more examples
Běn本
xué学
qī期
chū初
wǒ我
men们
kāi开
shè设
le了
yī一
mén门
xīn新
de的
kè课
chéng程
 。

We launched a new course at the start of this semester.

Nián年
chū初
de的
yì疫
qíng情
dǎ打
luàn乱
le了
suǒ所
yǒu有
rén人
de的
jì计
huà划
 。

The epidemic at the start of the year disrupted everyone's plans.

Yuè月
chū初
de的
huì会
yì议
wǒ我
men们
tǎo讨
lùn论
le了
xià下
bàn半
nián年
de的
gōng工
zuò作
ān安
pái排
 。

We discussed the work plan for the second half of the year at the early month meeting.

3.

adjective

first; first of a series

Specifically used for time divisions like solar terms, ten-day periods, and calendar dates.

Chū初
fú伏
shì是
sān三
fú伏
tiān天
de的
dì第
yī一
gè个
jiē阶
duàn段
 。

The first dog days are the first stage of the three periods of hot summer weather.

Měi每
yuè月
chū初
xún旬
shì是
shāng商
jiā家
pán盘
diǎn点
kù库
cún存
de的
shí时
jiān间
 。

The first ten days of each month is when businesses inventory their stock.

Show 3 more examples
Nóng农
lì历
chū初
yī一
wǒ我
men们
huì会
hé和
jiā家
rén人
yì一
qǐ起
chī吃
tuán团
yuán圆
fàn饭
 。

We eat family reunion dinner on the first day of the lunar month.

Chū初
shí十
shì是
wǒ我
nǎi奶
nai奶
de的
shēng生
rì日
 。

The tenth day of the lunar month is my grandma's birthday.

Jīn今
nián年
de的
chū初
xuě雪
bǐ比
wǎng往
nián年
zǎo早
le了
bàn半
gè个
yuè月
 。

This year's first snow was half a month earlier than usual.

4.

adverb

for the first time; just starting

Used before verbs to indicate the first attempt or early stage of learning.

Zhè这
shì是
wǒ我
chū初
cì次
cháng尝
shì试
zhì制
zuò作
dàn蛋
gāo糕
 。

This is my first time trying to make a cake.

Tā他
gāng刚
chū出
máo茅
lú庐
jiù就
dài带
lǐng领
tuán团
duì队
ná拿
xià下
le了
dà大
dìng订
dān单
 。

He just started his career and led the team to land a big order.

Show 3 more examples
Chū初
xué学
zhà乍
liàn练
de的
xīn新
shǒu手
hěn很
róng容
yì易
fàn犯
tóng同
yàng样
de的
cuò错
wù误
 。

New beginners who have just started learning easily make the same mistakes.

Chū初
cì次
jiàn见
miàn面
qǐng请
duō多
duō多
guān关
zhào照
 。

Nice to meet you for the first time, please take care of me.

Chū初
xué学
zhě者
yīng应
gāi该
cóng从
jī基
chǔ础
de的
dòng动
zuò作
kāi开
shǐ始
liàn练
xí习
 。

Beginners should start practicing with basic movements.

5.

adjective

lowest level; basic

Used to describe the most basic or lowest tier of products, courses, or positions.

Chū初
jí级
kuài会
jì计
kǎo考
shì试
shì是
cái财
kuài会
háng行
yè业
de的
rù入
mén门
kǎo考
shì试
 。

Junior accountant exams are the entry-level tests for the finance and accounting industry.

Zhè这
jiā家
diàn店
de的
chū初
jí级
tào套
cān餐
zhǐ只
tí提
gōng供
zuì最
jī基
chǔ础
de的
cān餐
shí食
 。

The basic set meal at this restaurant only provides the most basic food.

Show 3 more examples
Chū初
jí级
bān班
de的
kè课
chéng程
shì适
hé合
líng零
jī基
chǔ础
de的
xué学
shēng生
 。

The beginner class is suitable for students with zero foundation.

Chū初
jí级
chǎn产
pǐn品
de的
jià价
gé格
shòu受
guó国
jì际
shì市
chǎng场
bō波
dòng动
yǐng影
xiǎng响
jiào较
dà大
 。

Prices of primary products are greatly affected by international market fluctuations.

Gōng公
sī司
wèi为
chū初
jí级
yuán员
gōng工
tí提
gōng供
le了
wán完
shàn善
de的
péi培
xùn训
jì计
huà划
 。

The company provides a comprehensive training plan for entry-level employees.

6.

adjective

original; initial (intentions)

formal

Used to describe original intentions, aspirations, or wishes.

Wǒ我
men们
shǐ始
zhōng终
méi没
yǒu有
wàng忘
jì记
zuì最
chū初
de的
chū初
xīn心
 。

We have never forgotten our original original intentions.

Tā他
yì一
zhí直
jiān坚
shǒu守
zhe着
dāng当
chū初
cān参
jūn军
de的
zhì志
xiàng向
 。

He has always stuck to his original aspiration of joining the army.

Show 3 more examples
Wǒ我
men们
zuì最
zhōng终
hái还
shì是
huí回
dào到
le了
zuì最
chū初
de的
yuē约
dìng定
 。

We finally returned to our original agreement.

Qǐng请
bù不
yào要
wéi违
bèi背
nǐ你
dāng当
chū初
xǔ许
xià下
de的
yuàn愿
wàng望
 。

Please do not go back on the wishes you made originally.

Hěn很
duō多
rén人
zài在
chéng成
zhǎng长
zhōng中
zhú逐
jiàn渐
gǎi改
biàn变
le了
zuì最
chū初
de的
xiǎng想
fǎ法
 。

Many people gradually change their original ideas as they grow up.

7.

noun

original state; past condition

Often used in fixed phrases to describe returning to a previous state.

Jīng经
guò过
gōu沟
tōng通
 ,
tā他
men们
liǎ俩
zhōng终
yú于
hé和
hǎo好
rú如
chū初
le了
 。

After communication, the two finally reconciled and returned to their previous good relationship.

Zhè这
zuò座
chéng城
shì市
huī恢
fù复
le了
zhàn战
zhēng争
qián前
de的
rú如
chū初
miàn面
mào貌
 。

This city has restored its pre-war appearance as it was originally.

Show 3 more examples
Wǒ我
men们
xī希
wàng望
zhè这
duàn段
yǒu友
yì谊
néng能
gòu够
bǎo保
chí持
rú如
chū初
 。

We hope this friendship can remain as it was at the beginning.

Jīng经
guò过
wéi维
xiū修
 ,
jiù旧
jī机
qì器
yòu又
yùn运
zhuǎn转
de得
rú如
chū初
yī一
yàng样
 。

After repairs, the old machine ran as smoothly as it did originally.

Fēn分
kāi开
duō多
nián年
hòu后
 ,
tā他
men们
de的
gǎn感
qíng情
yī依
rán然
rú如
chū初
 。

After being apart for many years, their feelings are still the same as they were at first.

8.

proper noun

surname Chu

A common Chinese surname.

Chū初
lǎo老
shī师
shì是
wǒ我
men们
de的
yǔ语
wén文
lǎo老
shī师
 。

Teacher Chu is our Chinese teacher.

Wǒ我
yǒu有
yí一
gè个
tóng同
shì事
xìng姓
chū初
 ,
dà大
jiā家
dōu都
jiào叫
tā他
xiǎo小
chū初
 。

I have a colleague with the surname Chu, everyone calls him Xiao Chu.