• 初日しょにち — first day
• 初恋はつこい — first love
• 初耳はつみみ — something heard for the first time
• 初歩しょほ — basics, rudiments
• 初雪はつゆき — first snowfall
• 初詣はつもうで — first shrine visit of the year

This character is made up of 衣 (clothing) and 刀 (sword), symbolizing the act of cutting or tailoring cloth — a metaphor for beginnings. Over time, it came to represent "first" or "beginning" of anything.

It’s used broadly: seasons (初夏), events (初日), or experiences (初恋).

初はつめて 日本にほんに 来きました。
I came to Japan for the first time.

初はつ雪ゆきを 見みて 感動かんどうしました。
I was moved by seeing the first snow.

The kun-yomi “はつ” and “はじめ” are used for describing first events or times. The on-yomi “ショ” appears in compound words such as 初歩 (しょほ) or 初日 (しょにち).