hei2 co1起初
Jyutpinghei2 co1
Yalehéi chō
Definition
At first; initially; at the very beginning when something has just started.
neutraltime
How it's used
Focuses on the contrast between an initial state and a subsequent change in situation. It is commonly used in narrative contexts to explain how a perspective or circumstance has shifted over time. While it functions similarly to 一開始, it carries a slightly more formal or reflective tone suitable for storytelling or explaining personal history.
Examples
At first I thought he was a foreigner, but it turns out he's a local.
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Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 一開始. While they are synonyms, 一開始 is more versatile and can be used as a noun phrase to mean 'the beginning', whereas 起初 is strictly an adverbial marker for the initial phase of an event.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
