beginning;  outset;  first;  onset
 beginning;  start;  outset;  at first;  at the beginning;  initially
 first meeting;  first interview with
 early (days);  initial stage;  initial
 first generation;  founder
 past middle age;  nearing old age;  near-elderly;  age 40
 early summer;  fourth month of the lunar calendar
 elementary level;  beginner level
 first experience (of something);  first sexual experience
 origin;  source;  beginning;  starting point
 seeing for the first time;  first sight;  first meeting;  sight-reading
 first time;  first innings;  initial attempt;  first;  initial
 first match (in a series)
 first and last (time, chance, etc.);  (the) only
 from beginning to end;  from start to finish;  from first to last;  end-to-end;  all the way through
 original intention;  initial resolution
 basics;  rudiments;  elements;  ABCs of ...
 first night;  first watch of the night;  bridal night
 elementary;  basic;  rudimentary
 early spring;  beginning of spring;  first month of the lunar calendar
 beginning (of a century, etc.)
 initialization;  initialisation;  formatting;  resetting
 initial response (e.g. to a crisis);  action in the earliest stages;  initial shock (of an earthquake);  preliminary tremor
 first 10 days of the month
 early autumn (fall);  seventh month of the lunar calendar
 early winter;  tenth month of the lunar calendar
 default settings;  initial settings;  initial configuration;  initialization;  initialisation
 first number (e.g. issue of a magazine);  No. 1 type
 first rank in the senior class (in martial arts, go, etc.);  lowest rank;  one dan
 menarche;  first menstruation
 first year;  early years (of a reign or era)
 absolute basics;  very rudiments
 first year;  initial (year)
 pitcher's first pitch (to batter)
 first offence;  first offense;  first offender
 carrying out one's original intention
 initial value;  initializing value;  default value
 founding member (of a music group, etc.);  initial member
 initial investigation (by police)
 early;  primitive;  primordial
 memorial service held on the seventh day following a person's death
 beginner;  novice;  neophyte
 initial medical examination
 right of first night;  jus primae noctis;  droit du seigneur
 sticker for new car drivers (green and yellow)
 first appointment (to a post)
 beginning student;  beginner
 starting salary;  initial payment
 learning (a subject) for the first time;  start of one's study
 first proof;  first-proof sheets
 we were all beginners once;  never lose your humility;  don't let success get to your head;  don't forget where you came from
 meeting for the first time;  first meeting
 menarche;  first menstruation
 first month of the lunar calendar;  first month;  first moon of the month;  new moon
 early Christianity;  ante-Nicene era Christianity
 firstborn;  first-produced;  newborn
 first print (run);  first print of the new year (esp. newspaper printed on January 1)
 the first generation of a family;  school (of thought) or religious sect
 first five syllables (of a tanka);  first line (of a poem)
 founding member (of a music group, etc.);  initial member
(arch.)  crowning a boy for the first time at a coming-of-age ceremony;  noh cap with a rolled or drooping tail (indicative of nobility)
 colostrum;  foremilk;  first milk
 beginning of an epoch;  initial period
 initial budget;  original budget
 first term (e.g. of sequence);  initial term
 first screening;  preview of movie
 to achieve one's first victory after a string of losses
 setting in motion the wheel of the dharma;  the first turning of the wheel
 fee for an initial medical examination
 first word (of an infant)
 first train (of the day);  first telegram (about a particular topic)
 to achieve one's first victory after a string of losses
 original activity identifier
 first day (in the year) that a particular species of bird or insect, etc. sing or chirp
 first-run limited edition technical recording
 first-time adoption;  initial application (e.g. of a new technology)
 first-run limited edition production recording
 sticker for new car drivers (green and yellow)
 first page of a renga or renku
 first half of a tea ceremony (in which the charcoal is set and light food served)
 Initial parts;  first article;  first off-tool parts (from a manufacturing process)
 incipient tuberculosis;  initial-stage tuberculosis
 being in someone's service for the first time;  participating for the first time;  visiting a shrine (or temple) for the first time
 initial condition mode;  reset mode
 first watch of the night (approx. 7pm to 9pm)