hatsu

Hatsu is a Japanese term formed from the kanji 初, meaning "beginning" or "first." In contemporary usage, hatsu commonly appears as a prefix in compounds to signal the first occurrence or early stage of something, especially in expressions tied to the calendar or sequence of events.

Common examples include hatsuyume (初夢), the first dream of the new year; hatsumōde (初詣), the first shrine visit of the year; hatsuhinode (初日の出), the first sunrise of the year; hatsu-uri (初売り), the first sales of the year; and hatsukoi (初恋), one's first love.

Pronunciation and usage: While 初 is often read "hatsu" in these compounds, different readings can apply in other words containing the same character. The prefix sense is especially common in calendar or seasonal terms and tends to convey beginnings or renewal.

In names and culture: The root also appears in given names and stage names, such as Hatsune (初音), meaning "first sound," and used in the well-known name Hatsune Miku.