初めて
Common
Adverb
Noun
1
adverb (fukushi)nouns which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
for the first time
See also:
始める (はじめる)
１６歳の時、初めてテニスをした。
When I was sixteen, I played tennis for the first time.
2
adverb (fukushi)
only after ... is it ...;only when ... do you ...;not until ... do you ...
after the -te form of a verb
しかし、抗議を通して初めて自由で開かれた社会が維持されるのである。
Only through protest can a free and open society be maintained.
3
noun (common) (futsuumeishi)
colloquial
first time;(one's) first
Other forms
始めて 【はじめて】 · 甫めて 【はじめて】 (rarely used kanji form)