1.
early period, initial stage, beginning phase
The first or early phase of a process, era, illness, or development. Emphasizes the stage rather than the exact starting point.
Compound of 初 (first, beginning) + 期 (period, stage). Used across many fields including medicine, technology, history, and project management.
Common collocations
- 初期段階 (initial stage)
- 初期設定 (default settings, initial configuration)
- 初期症状 (early symptoms)
- 初期費用 (initial cost, startup cost)
- 初期不良 (initial defect)
- 初期の頃 (in the early days)
- 江戸初期 (early Edo period)
Usage
In technology, 初期設定 (default/factory settings) and 初期化 (initialization) are extremely common terms. In medicine, 初期 often refers to the early stage of a disease when treatment is most effective.