Composed of 初期 (initial; early stage) + 値 (value; a reading borrowed from the on'yomi of 値, used in technical vocabulary). A fundamental term in programming and system settings.
Two related meanings
1. INITIAL VALUE (programming / math): the first value a variable holds when declared or when execution begins.
2. DEFAULT VALUE (settings / UI): the value a form field or configuration item is set to until the user changes it.
In casual Japanese tech-support contexts, these two meanings often blur — "the number that's already there" is simply called 初期値.
Common collocations
- 初期値を設定する: to set the initial value
- 初期値に戻す: to restore to the initial / default value
- 初期値のまま: at / with the default value unchanged
- 初期値を変更する: to change the default value
- 初期値はゼロ: the initial value is zero
Similar / related terms
- デフォルト値: default value — a katakana-based synonym; very common in programming and UI writing.
- 既定値: prescribed / default value — a somewhat more formal synonym, preferred in Microsoft and some corporate documentation.
- 設定値: a set/configured value — any value a user has chosen, whether or not it is the default.
- 開始値: starting value — typically used for loops and ranges (e.g., a slider's minimum value).
- 初期化: initialization — the verb-like action of giving something its initial values.
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Technical. Appropriate in programming documentation, software manuals, UI dialogs, engineering reports, and tech-support conversations. In general conversation, speakers would typically say 最初の値 (the first value) or use デフォルト instead.