第一 | Grammar

Structure

第一 + [noun] [noun] + が第一だ [noun] + を第一に + [verb] [noun] + 第一第一、[sentence] 第一に、[sentence]

Description

第一 means "first" or "number one". After a noun, with が and だ, it says that thing comes before everything else; in front of a noun it makes "the first …".

。

Health comes first.

。

I believe family comes first.

。

First impressions are very important.

。

This is the first step toward success.

Putting something first

With を, the thing you put first becomes the object of a verb, usually かんがえる考える. A bare noun followed by 第一 is the slogan form you see on signs, and it takes で to describe how you act.

。

We put our customers first.

。

She puts health first in everything.

。

Please work with safety first.

第一、 at the start of a sentence

Set off by a comma at the head of a sentence, 第一 means "to begin with": the most basic reason something won't work. It nearly always backs up an objection or a complaint, and it belongs to speech.

。、。

That plan won't work. To begin with, the budget isn't enough.

。、。

I'm against it. To begin with, it's too dangerous.

is close, but it goes back to the premise of the whole thing rather than naming the first problem with it.

、きごう？

Why do we need this plan in the first place?

第一に, "firstly"

With に, 第一 starts a list of points, and だいに第二に and だいさん第三に can follow. It carries no complaint and suits presentations and writing.

、。

First of all, let's confirm the goals of this project.

、。

The problems are, first, the cost and, second, the time.

Examples

、。

First impressions are important, so wear proper clothes.

。

Let's act with safety first.

。

I believe family comes first.

、。

To begin with, we don't have time, so it's impossible.

。、。

That plan won't work. In the first place, the budget isn't enough.

。

She puts health first in everything.

、。

First of all, let's confirm the goals of this project.

。、。

I'm against it. To begin with, it's too dangerous.

。

This is the first step in learning Japanese.

。

We place the highest priority on customer satisfaction.

、きごう？

In the first place, you haven't even consulted him, have you?

。。

Studying comes first right now. Save playing for later.

References

第一Bunpro