How do you say "First of all" in Japanese?

"First of all" in Japanese is "まずは". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

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How to Say ‘First of all’ in Japanese

Q: What does "まずは" mean in English?

"まずは" means "First of all" in English. Usage tip: [まずは] often means "to start with" rather than a strict "first of all." It's useful for moving things along naturally: [まずは座りましょう] or [まずは飲みましょう].

まずは

mazu wa

[mah-zoo wah]

💬 Usage Tip: [まずは] often means "to start with" rather than a strict "first of all." It's useful for moving things along naturally: [まずは座りましょう] or [まずは飲みましょう].

Phrase Breakdown

まず

mazu

[mah-zoo]

first; to start with

Used to begin with something before moving on to other things.

Example

まずは座って話しましょう。

First, let's sit down and talk.

は

[wah]

topic marker

Here it emphasizes 'as a first step' in a natural phrase.

Example

まずは一杯飲みましょう。

First, let's have a drink.

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