初歩

• Reading: しょほ
• Romaji: shoho
• Kanji breakdown: 初 (sho/hatsu) — first, beginning; 歩 (ho/aru) — step, walk
• Pronunciation: /ɕo̞ho̞/

Meaning

Basics; rudiments; first steps; the ABCs of something. The foundational stage of learning.

Refers to the elementary or beginner stage of any discipline or skill. Often used in titles like 初歩から学ぶ (learning from the basics) or to describe fundamental concepts. Synonymous with 基礎 in some contexts, but specifically emphasises the very first steps.

Examples

1. 料理の初歩から丁寧に教えてもらった。 I was taught the basics of cooking carefully from the very beginning.
2. プログラミングの初歩すら理解できていない。 He doesn't even understand the rudiments of programming.
3. まずは初歩的なミスをなくすことが大切だ。 The most important thing is first to eliminate elementary mistakes.

Usage Guide

Context: education, self-study, skill development

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 初 (first, beginning) and 歩 (step, walk). Literally 'first steps,' used figuratively for the beginnings of learning.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal