How do you read 始発?

始発 is read しはつ (shihatsu), with heiban pitch accent (flat).

How do you write 始発 in romaji?

始発 is written shihatsu in romaji.

What kanji are in 始発?

始 (Commence, Begin); 発 (Departure, Discharge).

始発しはつ

Q: What JLPT level is 始発?

始発 is a JLPT N1 word (advanced).

しはつ · shihatsu

JLPT N1 › noun

First departure (of the day), first train, first bus

departing one's home station (of a train, bus, etc.)

Other ways to say “first departure” in Japanese →

Heiban

flat · what is pitch accent?

Test yourself

How it’s used

Learners will see this in train stations and timetables when planning early trips, or hear it asking about the first train of the day.

Often confused with 終電 (shūden, last train), but 始発 refers to the first departure, not the last.

Example sentences

始発に乗るために早起きした。

I woke up early to catch the first train.

Nihoner

この駅の始発は五時です。

The first train from this station is at five.

Nihoner

始発駅から乗らないと、座れることはまずない。

しはつえきからのらないと、すわれることはまずない。

Unless you board from the origin station, you almost never get a seat.

Nihoner sentence bank

この電車が空いているのは、始発だからだ。

このでんしゃがあいているのは、しはつだからだ。

The reason this train is empty is because it's the first train.

Nihoner sentence bank

始発駅から乗れば、座れるかもしれない。

しはつえきからのれば、すわれるかもしれない。

If you board from the origin station, you might get a seat.

Nihoner sentence bank

Say it out loud

Press the microphone and say 始発 (しはつ)

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Kanji in this word

始Commence, Begin 音し訓はじ.める・-はじ.める JLPT N4 · 8 strokes 発Departure, Discharge, Publish 音はつ・ほつ訓た.つ・あば.く JLPT N4 · 9 strokes

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Words that share a kanji

開始かいしstart, commencement, beginning 原始げんしorigin, primeval 始終しじゅうcontinuously, always, constantly 始発しはつfirst train 始末しまつdisposal; cleaning up afterwards 終始しゅうしfrom beginning to end; consistent(ly)発はつto depart (e.g., on a plane, train)発育はついく(physical) growth, development

Questions

What does 始発 mean?

First departure (of the day), first train, first bus. It can also mean: departing one's home station (of a train, bus, etc.).

How do you pronounce 始発?

しはつ (shihatsu). Pitch accent: heiban — flat. Press Listen above to hear it.

What JLPT level is 始発?

JLPT N1 — advanced. See the JLPT N1 guide.

How do I remember 始発?

Say it out loud with an example sentence, test yourself above, then save it to your deck: Nihoner brings it back just before you would forget it (spaced repetition).