Usage note
最初表示最开始的时候。
Zuì chū biǎoshì zuì kāishǐ de shíhou.
At first means the very beginning.
Context note
最初常用于讲述故事的开头。
Zuì chū cháng yòng yú jiǎngshù gùshì de kāitóu.
At first is often used to tell the beginning of a story.
5 examples
最初我不认识他。
zuì chū wǒ bú rèn shi tā。
At first I didn't know him.
最初这里很小。
zuì chū zhè lǐ hěn xiǎo。
At first this place was very small.
最初我们很开心。
zuì chū wǒ men hěn kāi xīn。
At first we were very happy.
最初他不同意。
zuì chū tā bù tóng yì。
At first he didn't agree.
最初我不知道答案。
zuì chū wǒ bù zhī dào dá àn。
At first I didn't know the answer.
5 mini stories
最初小鸟不会飞。
zuì chū xiǎo niǎo bú huì fēi。
At first the little bird couldn't fly.
最初种子很小。
zuì chū zhǒng zi hěn xiǎo。
At first the seed was very small.
最初我们迷路了。
zuì chū wǒ men mí lù le。
At first we got lost.
最初他害怕水。
zuì chū tā hài pà shuǐ。
At first he was afraid of water.
最初太阳还没出来。
zuì chū tài yáng hái méi chū lái。
At first the sun hadn't come out yet.
Mini dialogue
学骑车
A
你学骑车的时候害怕吗？
Nǐ xué qí chē de shíhou hàipà ma?
Were you scared when learning to ride a bike?
B
最初有点怕，后来就不怕了。
Zuìchū yǒudiǎn pà, hòulái jiù bú pà le.
At first I was a bit scared, but later I wasn't.
新同学
A
你喜欢新学校吗？
Nǐ xǐhuān xīn xuéxiào ma?
Do you like the new school?
B
最初不太习惯，现在很喜欢。
Zuìchū bú tài xíguàn, xiànzài hěn xǐhuān.
At first I wasn't used to it, but now I like it a lot.
Related words and contrasts
related
开始
kāi shǐ
beginning; start
开始 is a noun or verb for 'start', while 最初 means 'at first' or 'initially'.
similar
起初
qǐ chū
originally; at first
起初 is a near synonym, often interchangeable with 最初.
opposite
最后
zuì hòu
finally; in the end
最后 is the opposite, meaning 'last' or 'final'.