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.
初期設定に戻す。
Reset to the initial settings.
病気が初期の段階で見つかった。
The illness was discovered at an early stage.
プロジェクトの初期段階では予算の見積もりが難しかった。
In the initial stages of the project, estimating the budget was difficult.
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 NOTES:
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.