初步

• Pinyin: chū bù
• Hanzi breakdown: 初 = 衤(clothing) + 刀 (knife), meaning beginning; 步 = depicting feet walking, meaning step

Meaning

Preliminary; initial; tentative. Describing the first stage of something, not yet final or complete.

Used as an adjective or adverb to indicate that something is at an early stage. Common in phrases like 初步计划 (preliminary plan), 初步了解 (initial understanding), 初步结果 (preliminary results), and 初步估计 (rough estimate).

Examples

1. 我们已经有了一个初步的计划。 We already have a preliminary plan.
2. 经过调查，我们初步了解了事情的经过。 After investigation, we gained an initial understanding of what happened.
3. 这只是初步的想法，还需要再讨论。 This is just a preliminary idea — it still needs further discussion.

Usage Guide

Context: work, research, planning

Tone: cautious

Do Say

• 我们对这个问题有了初步的认识。(We have gained a preliminary understanding of this issue.)
• 初步调查结果已经出来了。(The preliminary investigation results are out.)

Don't Say

• 这是初步的最终结果 (Don't combine 初步 with 最终 — they contradict each other; say 初步结果 or 最终结果)

Origin & History

Compound of 初 (beginning, first) and 步 (step), literally 'first step,' referring to the initial stage of a process.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal