(しょだい)

しょだい
noun
first generation, founder
historysociety
1. first generation, founder, first (in a line)
The first person in a succession or lineage, such as the first leader, first head of a family business, or the original version of something.
初代(しょだい)大統領(だいとうりょう)ワシントンだ。
The first president was Washington.
The original owner opened this shop.
This inn is run by the fifth-generation owner, counting from the founder.

Used as a prefix before titles or roles to indicate the first holder of that position.

Forms

(しょ) (first) + (だい) (generation)

Common collocations

Generation counting

Usage

Common in discussions of family businesses, political dynasties, and historical figures. Also used for product versions: 初代(しょだい)iPhone (the original iPhone).