手始め|てはじめtehajime[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. nounoutset; start; beginning
   手始てはじめは、三さん大だい宗教しゅうきょうの聖地せいち、エルサレムを訪おとずれることだった。↗

   For a start, I visited Jerusalem - a sacred place for three major religions.

• Synonym皮切りかわきりNeutralMarks the start of a series of events, typically in the pattern 「…を皮切りに」; it stresses kicking things off, while 「手始め」 stresses the first step you take.
• Antonym仕上げしあげNeutralThe final finishing touches on a piece of work — the opposite end of the process from the opening step that 「手始め」 describes.
• Antonym終わりおわりNeutralSimply the end of something; it stands at the opposite pole from 「手始め」, which names the point where things begin.

Use 「手始め」 for the first step you take when getting started, as in 「手始めに掃除から」. For the start of a series of events, 「皮切り」 fits better. The opposites are 「仕上げ」 (finishing touches) and 「終わり」 (end).

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

1. 何なんかを始はじめる最初さいしょの段階だんかい。