TSUMUGU · TOCFL 1 (est.) · 字
初
初 ＝ 衤 ＋ 刀
ㄔㄨ · chū
noun/adj — the beginning, the first, the start
字源 FORM — what the parts do
衤義clothing, cloth
A knife (刀) to the cloth (衤) — the first cut is where making a garment begins. From that opening cut comes every "beginning": 初次、最初、初級.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
剪刀（刀）對著整匹布（衤），第一刀落下——衣服就從這裡開始。
The knife (刀) meets the uncut cloth (衤); the first cut falls — and the garment begins here.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)初始、起初— the beginning, the start常用
→初次、最初— the first time; at first
⇒初級、初學— elementary, beginner's
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension