起初

qǐchū

originally; at first; at the outset

Watch it being written

Every character draws itself, stroke by stroke. Then grab the brush: trace it yourself and hear the word when you finish.

Build with these blocks

Chinese words snap together like bricks. Every word below shares a character with this one, so you are already halfway to knowing it.

See it in sentences

起初他并不愿意。

At first he was not willing.

起初的计划是什么?

What was the original plan?