まず

まず is an adverb meaning "first," "firstly," or "to start with." It is used to indicate the first step in a sequence of actions, or to highlight what should be done before anything else. It typically appears at the beginning of a sentence or clause.

Indicating the first step in a sequence

The most common use of まず is to mark the first action when describing a series of steps or instructions.

When listing multiple steps, まず is often paired with words like つぎ次に (next), それから (after that), or さいご最後に (finally) to organize the sequence.

Prioritizing – "before anything else"

まず can also express that something should be done as a priority, before considering other things.

In this usage, まず carries the nuance of "before anything else" or "the most important thing is."

Softening a suggestion

In conversation, まず can soften a suggestion by framing it as just the first step, making it feel less overwhelming.