"initially" in Chinese (Simplified)

• 最初
• 起初

Definition

在一开始，在任何变化或发展之前。

Usage Notes (Chinese (Simplified))

“Initially” 在书面和口语中都算正式，常用于解释前因后果，和后续情况形成对比。一般出现在句首。很少用于非常日常的非正式对话。

Examples

Initially, I wanted to be a doctor.

**最初**，我想当医生。

The project was hard initially.

这个项目**起初**很难。

We met initially at a conference.

我们**最初**是在一次会议上认识的。

Initially, I thought this job would be easy, but it turned out to be quite challenging.

**起初**，我觉得这份工作会很简单，但结果很有挑战性。

Although it was confusing initially, I understood everything after a few days.

**起初**虽然很困惑，但是几天后我就全懂了。

The company initially planned to expand overseas, but changed its mind.

公司**最初**计划向海外扩展，但后来改变了主意。