初頭|しょとうshotou[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun, adverbbeginning (of a century, etc.)
   事実じじつ、海うみは今世紀こんせいきの初頭しょとうよりすでに10cmも上昇じょうしょうしているのである。↗

   In fact, the sea has already risen 10 centimeters since the beginning of this century.

• Synonym当初とうしょWrittenWritten/formal: the outset of an affair or plan, usable adverbially, as in 「当初の予定」. 「初頭」 is for the start of a century or era.
• Synonym初期しょきNeutralNeutral word for early stages, with a wider range than 「初頭」, which names the very start of a period — usually a century, decade or fiscal year.
• RelatedはじめNeutralNeutral and the most widely used word for a beginning. 「初頭」 has a more written flavour and marks the start of a period such as a century.
• Related最初さいしょNeutralNeutral word for the very first point or instance. 「初頭」 instead names the opening of a period like a century or fiscal year.
• Related始まりはじまりNeutralNeutral noun for where something begins or originates. 「初頭」 is tied to the opening of an era or period.
• Related序盤じょばんNeutralNeutral word for the opening phase of a game such as go or shogi, or an early stage generally. 「初頭」 is for the start of an era.
• Related幕開けまくあけWrittenWritten/formal: the raising of a curtain, hence the dramatic start of an era or event. 「初頭」 simply marks the start of a period.
• Related序章じょしょうWrittenWritten/formal: a prologue or introductory chapter, by extension a beginning. 「初頭」 refers to the start of a period itself.
• Related序の口じょのくちCasualColloquial: only the very beginning, as in 「これはまだ序の口だ」. 「初頭」 is for the start of a decade or century.
• RelatedスタートNeutralNeutral loanword for starting out or setting off, in races and projects alike. 「初頭」 marks the start of an era or period.
• Related冒頭ぼうとうWrittenWritten/formal word for the opening lines of a text or talk. 「初頭」 instead marks the start of a period such as a century.
• Related滑り出しすべりだしCasualColloquial for how the opening phase goes, as in 「滑り出しは好調」. 「初頭」 is for the start of an era, not how a start goes.
• Related出だしでだしCasualColloquial word for the opening stretch of an activity, as in 「出だしが悪い」. 「初頭」 points to the start of a decade or century instead.
• Related出始めではじめCasualColloquial: the time when seasonal goods first appear on the market. 「初頭」 instead marks the start of an era.
• Relatedとば口とばくちCasualColloquial word for a doorway or entrance, figuratively the very start of something. 「初頭」 is for the start of an era.
• RelatedビギニングCasualColloquial loanword simply meaning a beginning. 「初頭」 is the written choice for the start of a century or era.
• Antonym終盤しゅうばんNeutralAntonym: the final stage of a game or undertaking, standing opposite 「初頭」.
• Antonym末頃すえごろNeutralAntonym: the time around the end of a period, the opposite of 「初頭」.

Use 「初頭」 for the start of a century, decade or fiscal year, as in 「20世紀初頭」 and 「年度初頭」. For the outset of a plan or undertaking pick 「当初」, for early stages 「初期」, for the opening of a game 「序盤」, and for the opening of a text or speech 「冒頭」. The everyday words 「始め」 and 「最初」 cover most other beginnings. 「末頃」 and 「終盤」 are the opposites.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 期間きかん・年代ねんだいなどの初はじめ。