First in Korean 🇰🇷

처음 info.

Tips to Remember (Romanized: cheo-eum):
• Associate "처음" with the idea of "starting point" or "first time." Imagine beginning a new experience and think, “This is my cheo-eum.”

Explanation:
• "처음" means "first" or "the beginning." It is used to denote the initial occurrence of an event or experience.
• It often appears in contexts highlighting the start of an activity, journey, or introduction to something new.

Synonyms and Similar Terms:
• 첫번째 (cheot beonjjae) – literally "first" in order.
• 초기 (chogi) – referring to the early phase or initial stage.
• 원래 (wonrae) can sometimes imply the original or primary state, though context is important.

Alternate Meanings / Slang:
• While "처음" primarily means "first," in casual conversation it can stress the novelty or uniqueness of an experience (e.g., “처음이라더니…” meaning “You said it was your first time…”). It isn’t broadly used as slang in a derogatory or humorous way.

Example Sentences:
• 한국에 처음 왔을 때, 모든 것이 새로웠어요.
 Romanized: Hangug-e cheo-eum waseul ttae, modeun geos-i saerowosseo.
 English: When I first came to Korea, everything was new.
• 그녀와의 만남은 내 인생의 처음이었어요.
 Romanized: Geunyeowa-ui mannam-eun nae insaeng-ui cheo-eum-ieosseoyo.
 English: Meeting her was the first in my life.
• 나는 처음 보는 사람들에게 조심스럽게 말을 건넸다.
 Romanized: Naneun cheo-eum boneun saramdeul-ege josimseureopge mal-eul geonnyessda.
 English: I spoke cautiously to people I was meeting for the first time.

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