初心者
shoshinsha[ɕo̞ɕĩɰ̃ɕa̠]
The Japanese word for novice is 初心者 (shoshinsha).
初心者 is used to describe a person at the lowest skill level in specific contexts, such as gaming, sports or when learning a new hobby.
Which one should you use?
While 初心者 is the standard term, you may encounter other forms. 初学者 is a more formal way to say beginner or novice, while ビギナー is an informal term borrowed from English that can be translated as beginner or newbie. You can also create the phrase 初心者レベル by adding the word for level to the end of the standard term.
How do you pronounce it?
shoshinsha
Did you know?
- In Japan, you will see a yellow and green leaf-shaped sticker on cars, known as the 初心者マーク, to warn other drivers that a novice driver is behind the wheel.
- The word 初心者 is closely related to 初心, a Zen Buddhist concept known as 'beginner's mind' which encourages approaching a task with openness and lack of preconceptions.
- While 初心者 is the standard term, using the word 素人 (shirouto) to call someone a novice can actually sound like an insult, implying they are an amateur who lacks professionalism.
Examples in context
- 彼はまだ未熟者ですが、誠実さと情熱は持っています。He is still a novice, but he possesses sincerity and passion.
- 彼女は料理の初心者ですが、毎日上達しています。She is a cooking novice but improves every day.
- ダンスを始めてから、私はビギナーのままです。Since I started dancing, I'm still a beginner.
- 私はまだ初心者です。Watashi wa mada shoshinsha desu.I am still a novice.
- 初心者に優しいゲームですか？Shoshinsha ni yasashii geemu desu ka?Is it a game that is easy for novices?
- 彼はテニスの初心者だ。Kare wa tenisu no shoshinsha da.He is a novice at tennis.
Example conversation
At a gym, a man is talking to a woman about a new hobby.
- 大翔 Hiroto料理を始めたんだけど、初心者だよ。Ryouri o hajimeta ndakedo, shoshinsha da yo.I started cooking, but I am a novice.
- 陽葵 Himari大丈夫、私も初心者だったよ。Daijoubu, watashi mo shoshinsha datta yo.It's okay, I was a novice too.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵さんは料理が上手だね。Himari-san wa ryouri ga jouzu da ne.You are good at cooking, Himari.
- 陽葵 Himari練習を続ければ、大翔さんも上手くなるよ。Renshuu o tsuzukereba, Hiroto-san mo jouzu ni naru yo.If you keep practicing, you will get good too, Hiroto.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 初心者, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
