Translation guide
Expresses that something was true or happened from the very beginning. In Japanese, this is often conveyed through set phrases, adverbs, or grammatical patterns rather than a single word.
Indicate that a state, action, or intention existed right from the start.
A common and versatile phrase meaning 'from the beginning' or 'from the start'. Used in both spoken and written Japanese.
最初からやり直しましょう。
Let's start over from the beginning.
He was against the plan from the outset.
Similar to 最初から, but slightly more formal or literary. Often interchangeable.
初めから終わりまで、その映画は面白かった。
The movie was interesting from beginning to end.
Formal, often used in business or official contexts to mean 'from the outset' or 'initially'.
当初からこのプロジェクトには問題があった。
There were problems with this project from the outset.
Stress that a fact, intention, or outcome was clear or predetermined from the start.
Adverb meaning 'originally' or 'from the start'. Implies that the situation was always like that.
もともと行くつもりはなかった。
I never intended to go from the outset.
それはもともと彼のアイデアだ。
That was his idea from the outset.
Kanji form of もともと, slightly more formal in writing.
Colloquial, emphatic version of 最初から. Often used in casual speech.
最初っからそう言ってよ！
You should have said so from the outset!
Express that something was not the case initially, but changed later.
Pattern meaning 'not necessarily'. Often combined with 最初から to mean 'not necessarily from the outset'.
必ずしも最初から成功するとは限らない。
You won't necessarily succeed from the outset.
Simple pattern: 'at first, didn't...'. Contrasts with later change.
最初は彼のことが好きじゃなかった。
I didn't like him from the outset.
Both mean 'from the beginning', but 最初から is more common in everyday speech. 初めから can sound slightly more formal or literary. In most situations, they are interchangeable.
最初から説明してください。
Please explain from the beginning.
初めから終わりまで注意深く読んだ。
I read it carefully from beginning to end.
Avoid directly translating 'from the outset' as 出だしから or スタートから, as these sound unnatural. Stick to the phrases above.
出だしから問題があった。
There were problems from the outset. (unnatural)
出だしから問題があった。
There were problems from the outset. (unnatural)
元々の計画では、今日出発するはずだった。
According to the original plan, we were supposed to depart today.