初頭(しょとう)

しょとう
noun
beginning of a period
1. beginning, early part (of a period)
The opening phase of a time period such as a century, decade, year, or month. Typically attaches to a time word to specify the early portion.
20世紀(せいき)初頭(しょとう)のことだ。
It was at the beginning of the 20th century.
2000年代(ねんだい)初頭(しょとう)にインターネットが急速(きゅうそく)に普及(ふきゅう)した。
The internet spread rapidly in the early 2000s.
明治(めいじ)時代(じだい)初頭(しょとう)に日本(にほん)は近代化(きんだいか)への道(みち)を歩(あゆ)み始(はじ)めた。
At the beginning of the Meiji era, Japan started on the path to modernization.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 世紀(せいき)初頭(しょとう) (beginning of a century)
  • 年代(ねんだい)初頭(しょとう) (beginning of a decade)
  • 年(ねん)初頭(しょとう) (beginning of the year)

Almost always follows a time-period noun. Used in written and formal contexts. The corresponding terms for middle and end are 中頃(なかごろ) and 末(まつ)/末期(まっき).

general
Added 2026.2.18 23:00
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