初
ショ, はじ.め, はじ.めて, はつ, はつ, うい, そ.める, ぞ.め, し, はっ

first time, beginning

JLPT3 G4 S7 F152

As per 刀 (cutting implement) + 衣 clothing → *begin* making a garment by cutting cloth (compare 裁) → *beginning* → *first*; *first time*; *naïve*. The pronunciation of the character has been influenced by 裁 (also meaning "cut cloth").

[Full Kanji Etymology List]