初心(しょしん)

しょしん
noun
beginner's mind; original intention
cognitionculture
1. original intention; initial resolution
the original motivation or determination one had when starting something
初心(しょしん)を忘(わす)れずに頑張(がんば)る。
I'll do my best without forgetting my original intention.
初心(しょしん)に戻(もど)って考(かんが)え直(なお)した。
I went back to basics and reconsidered.
初心(しょしん)を貫(つらぬ)いて夢(ゆめ)を叶(かな)えた。
She stayed true to her original intention and achieved her dream.
初心(しょしん)に返(かえ)って基礎(きそ)から学(まな)び直(なお)す。
I'll go back to a beginner's mindset and relearn from the basics.
2. beginner's mind; novice mindset
the mindset of a beginner, characterized by openness and eagerness
初心(しょしん)の頃(ころ)の気持(きも)ちを思(おも)い出(だ)した。
I remembered how I felt when I was just starting out.
経験(けいけん)を積(つ)んでも初心(しょしん)の謙虚(けんきょ)さを持(も)ち続(つづ)けたい。
Even as I gain experience, I want to maintain the humility of a beginner.
初心(しょしん)に返(かえ)って基礎(きそ)から学(まな)び直(なお)す。
I'll go back to a beginner's mindset and relearn from the basics.

Cultural note

初心(しょしん)忘(わす)るべからず - "Don't forget the beginner's mind"
A famous saying by 世阿弥(ぜあみ) (Zeami), the influential Noh playwright, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the earnestness and humility one had at the beginning.

Usage

In everyday Japanese 初心(しょしん) mostly means one's original resolve. The English phrase "beginner's mind" comes from the Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki's use of this word, and the sense 2 reading is closer to that idea.

Common expressions

  • 初心(しょしん)を忘(わす)れずに - without forgetting one's original intention
  • 初心(しょしん)に戻(もど)る - to go back to basics
  • 初心(しょしん)に返(かえ)る - to return to beginner's mind
  • 初心(しょしん)を貫(つらぬ)く - to stay true to one's original intention

Related words

Watch out

The same kanji read うぶ (初心(うぶ)) is a different word meaning naive or innocent; it is usually written in kana.

Related Words

Related: 初心者(しょしんしゃ) (beginner (person))
Compare: 初志(しょし) (original intention)
general
Added 2026.1.27 22:23 · Revised 2026.9.28 13:19
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