Japanese word of the day: 初陣 (Uijin)

What does 初陣 (Uijin) mean?

初陣 (Uijin) — one's first campaign; one's first battle

Today’s word captures that feeling of facing something new head-on. Whether it’s launching a project, or simply beginning an adventure, this word embodies the spirit of new beginnings with courage. Just like this newsletter!

Kanji details for 初 and 陣

Character: 初 — first time, beginning.
Radical: knife, sword 刀 (刂)

Character: 陣 — camp, battle array, ranks, position, sudden, brief time
Radical: mound, dam (阝 left) 阜 (阝)

Example sentences with 初陣 (Uijin)

• 彼は初陣でとても緊張した。

  (Kare wa uijin de totemo kinchō shita.)

  💪 He was very nervous during his first challenge.

• 今日の試合が彼の初陣だ。

  (Kyō no shiai ga kare no uijin da.)

  ⚾️ Today’s match is his first big challenge.

• これは私たちの初陣。頑張ろう！

  (Kore wa watashitachi no uijin. Ganbarou!)

  🥇 This is our first challenge. Let’s do our best!

初陣 (Uijin) in context

初陣 (Uijin) is mostly used in formal, competitive, or high-stakes contexts, making it a cool but somewhat specialized word. It carries a strong sense of challenge, battle, or proving oneself, making it perfect for debuts, sports, and business firsts!

初陣 (Uijin) is NOT used for casual, everyday firsts like “first time eating sushi” or “first time riding a bike.” Neither it is for minor events, because it implies something that feels like a "challenge" or a "test."