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.

初頭(しょとう) means the beginning or early part of a time period. Composed of 初(しょ) (first, beginning) + 頭(とう) (head). Almost always follows a time-period noun.

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
21世紀(せいき)初頭(しょとう): early 21st century
2000年代(ねんだい)初頭(しょとう): early 2000s

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Used in written and formal contexts — news, academic writing, history. Rarely used in casual conversation.

Time period terms

初頭(しょとう): beginning (formal)
中頃(なかごろ): middle
後半(こうはん): latter half
末(まつ)/末期(まっき): end

Similar words

冒頭(ぼうとう): opening, beginning (of a speech, book, etc. — not time periods)
当初(とうしょ): initially, at first

Related Words

Compare: 冒頭(ぼうとう) (opening, beginning (of a speech, book…)

Compare: 当初(とうしょ) (initially, at first)

general

Added 2026.2.18 23:00 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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