当初

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 早知今日,当初就不该那样做。▶ —
   Had I known it would come to this, I shouldn’t have done that at the outset.
2. 当初的决定现在看来是对的。▶ —
   The original decision now seems to have been right.

Collocations

Mnemonic

当 dāng "at (that time)" + 初 chū "the beginning": at the very beginning, i.e. originally, at the outset. Used when looking back from now to a past starting point. 当初的决定 = the original decision. Opposite of 现在 / 如今 (now).

Related

Quick check

1. What does 当初 mean?

   • at the outset, originally
   • right now
   • from now on
   • at the end