---
title: "Qichu Meaning: 起初 (qǐchū) Means “at first”"
description: "起初 (qǐchū) means “at first; originally”. Hear its tones, see what 起 and 初 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/qichu"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 起初 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

起初 qǐchū

## at first; originally

## Its characters

1. 起 qǐ to rise
2. 初 chū at first

## In a sentence

起初我不太习惯这里的生活。 At first I wasn't used to life here.

耐人寻味的是，古代汉语**起初**并不需要量词。

From [中文为什么要用量词？ · Why does Chinese have measure words?](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/why-does-chinese-have-measure-words#library-word-311-313)

[More about 起初](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%B5%B7%E5%88%9D)

## More words with 起 or 初

- [初步 chūbù](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chubu)
- [初级 chūjí](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chuji)
- [初期 chūqī](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chuqi)
- [初中 chūzhōng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chuzhong)
- [当初 dāngchū](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dangchu)
- [对不起 duìbuqǐ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/duibuqi)
- [发起 fāqǐ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/faqi)
- [崛起 juéqǐ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jueqi)
- [了不起 liǎobuqǐ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/liaobuqi)
- [年初 niánchū](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/nianchu)

## Keep 起初 for Review

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