Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 初心者 | shoshinsha | [ɕo̞ɕĩɰ̃ɕa̠] (narrow) [ɕo̞ɕĩmːo̞no̞] (narrow) |
| ビギナー | biginā | [bʲiɡʲina̠ː] (narrow) |
| 新参 | shinzan | [ɕĩnd͡zã̠ɴ] (narrow) |
| 初学者 | shogakusha | [ɕo̞ɡa̠kɯ̟̊ɕa̠] (narrow) |
初心者 is the most versatile and common way to describe someone who is a beginner in daily conversation. It is also frequently used in the phrase 初心者向け to mean 'intended for beginners' or 'beginner-friendly'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 初心者 is composed of three parts: 初 (beginning/first), 心 (heart/mind) and 者 (person).
Which one should you use?
初学者 is more academic, and 新参 refers more to a newcomer who has just arrived or joined a group rather than a person lacking skill. ビギナー is a loanword used to sound more modern or casual in specific contexts like sports, hobbies or gaming.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal or academic settings, you may use 初学者 or 入門者 to describe someone new to a specific field or discipline. In everyday, informal conversations, you can use the loanword ビギナー. 初心者 remains the most common choice for general use.
How do you pronounce it?
shoshinsha
Did you know?
- In Japanese martial arts, the concept of 初心 refers to the 'beginner's mind', a state of openness and lack of preconceptions that even masters strive to maintain.
- In Japanese gaming culture, a 'beginner' who is unexpectedly skilled is often called a 初心者殺し (shoshinsha-goroshi), which literally means 'beginner killer'.
- Depending on the context, 入門者 (nyumonsha) literally describes a beginner as someone who has just 'entered the gate' of a particular study or art.
Examples in context
- まだ初心者です。I'm still a beginner.This sentence is useful for stating your own level as a beginner using 初心者.Tatoeba #9628412 by small_snow, translation #9583340 by shekitten
- 私も初心者です。I'm a beginner, too.This sentence is useful for stating that you are also a beginner using 初心者.Tatoeba #12286957 by small_snow, translation #1468392 by CK
- 君はまだ初心者だ。You're still a beginner.This sentence is useful for telling someone else they are still a beginner using 初心者.Tatoeba #7838825 by Ninja, translation #7837510 by CK
- 日本語を始めたばかりです。I've just started learning Japanese.
- そうですか？初学者ですか？Oh, are you a beginner?
- はい、初心者です。Yes, I'm a beginner.
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A gym where a man and woman are talking about a new fitness class.
- 大翔 Hiroto初心者でも大丈夫ですか？Shoshinsha demo daijoubu desu ka?Is it okay even for a beginner?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、初心者向けのクラスですよ。Hai, shoshinsha muke no kurasu desu yo.Yes, it is a class for beginners.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵さんは、よくここに来るんですか？Himari-san wa, yoku koko ni kuru n desu ka?Himari, do you come here often?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、私も最近始めたばかりです。Hai, watashi mo saikin hajimeta bakari desu.Yes, I also just started recently.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beginner” translations and entries 初心者, ビギナー, 新参, 初学者, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
