～始め [～hajime] ☆ ～初め [～zome] ✿Japanese Lesson✿

☆ 始め [hajime] means the start/the biginning/starting something.

These are some words 「～始め[~hajime]」 for New Years.
✿稽古始め [Keikohajime] means starting a lesson/practice for the first time in the year.
✿仕事始め [Shigotohajime] means starting a work for the first time in the year.
✿ちなみに、12月13日は、正月事始めと言って、お正月の準備を始める日とされています。正月事始め [Shogatsu kotohajime/on December 13rd] means sthe starting the preparation for Shogatsu.
歌会始め [Utakaihajime]、御用始め [Goyōhajime]...




★日本人でも、稽古初め、仕事初めと書いてしまいがちですが、「初め」ではなく、「始め」です。「稽古始め」は、「新しい年になって初めて〝稽古を始めること″（稽古の開­始）」、「仕事始め」は、「新しい年になって初めて〝仕事を始めること″（仕事の開始）」を意味します。初稽古、初仕事とは少し違います。
ちなみに、「20世紀初め」などのように、「初め [Hajime]」という名詞(副詞的にも使う）はありますが、「初める [hajimeru]」という動詞はありません。初め [そめ/some] という動詞の連用形はありますが、通常は、前にほかの語を伴う複合語として使い、その際、連濁によって「～ぞめ[~zome]と変形します。
Even Japanese often make a mistake and use the word 初める [Hajimeru] for 始める [Hajimeru]. But, there is not a verb 「初める [Hajimeru]」.


☆初 means the first/beginning/something for the first time in the season/year or your life.
For example:
✿初詣 [Hatsumōde]、初稽古 [Hatsugeiko]、初夢 [Hatsuyume]、初売り [Hatsuuri]、初笑い [Hatsuwarai]、初釜 [Hatsugama]、初句会 [Hatsukukai]...for the first time in the year.
✿初雪 [Hatsuyuki]、初霜 [Hatsushimo]、初氷 [Hatsugōri]...for the first time in the season.
✿初対面 [Shotaimen]、初舞台 [Hatsubutai]、初節句 [Hatsusekku]、初孫 [Hatsumago]...for the first time in one's life.




☆We have many words ～初め for the first lessons/practice/performances of the year (we normally do in New Year's), and it is pronounced ~ZOME.
I'll write down some examples here.　　　　　✿弾き初め(Hikizome)・・・・「年が明けて、初めて弾く」という意味で。「弾き始める」という意味ではないです。For stringed instrument like 三味線(Shamisen)・琴(Koto) and Keyboard instruments (鍵盤楽器) etc.
以下も同じ理屈です。
　　✿吹き初め(Hukizome)・・・・For wind instruments like 笛(Fue)・尺八(Shakuhachi)
　　✿舞い初め(Maizome)・・・・For dancing 舞踊等
　　✿打ち初め(Uchizome)/ 叩き初め(Tatakizome)・・・・For percussion instruments 太鼓(Taiko)・鼓(Tuzumi) etc.
　　✿謡い初め(Utaizome)・・・・For reading 謡曲
　　✿生け初め(Ikezome)・・・・For flower arrangement 華道
　　✿蹴鞠初め(Kemarizome)・・・For Japanese ancient style of football
　　✿はじき初め(Hajikizome)・・・For Soroban (Abacus) そろばん
　　✿書き初め(Kakizome)・・・・For calligraphy 書道

We have some other 「～初め [～zome]」words except for those for New Year's too. 「～初め [~zome]」という語は、お正月に使うものが多いですが、次のように、使う時期や季節に関係のないものもあります。
For example: お食い初め、渡り初め・・・
✿お食い初め [Okuizome] means eating something for the first time in a life. It often means the ceremony for babies [お食い初め式].
✿渡り初め [Watarizome] means crossing a new bridge for the first time after it was built. It often means the ceremony for new bridges.


I hope this helps you!

May the year of 2012 bring you a lot of happiness and smiles!!


～Miyabi

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[JustMiyabi]

Thank you for your comments!! I'm happy to read them! It seems that this lesson was helpful for your Japanese improvement and you guys enjoyed that first drums performance, 叩き初め! ＾－＾

[Lilamente]

Can you tell me what the outfits the drummers are wearing is called?

[JustMiyabi]

@Lilamente It's 半纏 [Hanten]. To be accurate, 袖なし半纏 [Sodenashi Hanten]. ^-^ Sodenashi means sleeveless. ^^

[Hajime598]

My name is Hajime what does it mean?

[JustMiyabi]

@Hajime598 LOL! Actually, I was remembering you when I was making this video, Hajime! (＾０＾) About your question, I cannot answer correctly when I don't know the kanji for your "Hajime". ＾＾　It seems that there are many kanji can be pronounced as Hajime and used for names of people. For example, 一、基、啓、元、源、肇、大、新... ＾０＾

[gabi0615]

konichiwa :DD ichi! :DD

[JustMiyabi]

@gabi0615 Thank you for the comment! Happy New Year! :D

[ocelot2k10]

Best thing I ever saw in my life!

[AmericajinYumi]

Thank you for this awesome nee year's video  Miyabi-san. It was education and fun!

[xxsweetyflowerxx]

whaaaa... these drummers were amazing O.O

thei played gorgoues :D

thaks for sharing this video ^-^

[Relatharr]

Happy New Year! That was a great performance! :D

[WatashiNoOmocha]

Happy New Year to you as well :)

I love the drum show!! Thank you very much for recording and posting it.

[AtomikSoup]

Thank you for this wonderful video! I really enjoyed the drumming performance, and the language lessons.  Happy New Year! ♥

[kua514]

excellent. thank you.

[kevin26tx]

I like a lot this video, Miyabi this is one of my favorites :)

I like Kodo Performance too.

I happy to see you again . . .

[SuperiorLarxene]

Lol That Taiko performance gave me a new idea for a musical composition. xP Anyways, great lesson!