at first

英 [æt fɜːst]

美 [æt fɜːrst]

最初;起初;开始时

Oxford 3000

牛津词典

• firstly在英国英语中比在北美英语中更通用。
  Firstly is more common in BrE than in NAmE .
  1. The brochure is divided into two sections, dealing firstly with basic courses and secondly with advanced ones.
     小册子分为两部分：第一部分涉及基础课程，第二部分涉及高级课程。
• at first用以讲述最初阶段的情况，尤指与后来的不同情况相比较：
  At first is used to talk about the situation at the beginning of a period of time, especially when you are comparing it with a different situation at a later period.
  1. Maggie had seen him nearly every day at first. Now she saw him much less.
     起初玛吉几乎每天都见到他，现在见到他的次数少得多了。

双语例句

• At first I wasn't aware that he was ill.
  开始我没有察觉到他有病。
• I had some difficulty at first recalling why we were there.
  刚开始回想我们为什么会在那儿时我有些费劲。
• I tried not to take any notice at first but then I was offended by it.
  起初我尽量不予理会，但后来我被惹恼了。
• At first he didn't agree, but later he did.
  开始他不同意，但后来同意了。
• You will find it hard at first, but stick at it
  你会发现刚开始时有点难，但要坚持下去。
• At first I couldn't believe it. I thought it was a wind-up by one of my mates.
  一开始我不相信，以为是哪个同伴在故意逗我。
• It was love at first sight, and he proposed to me six weeks later.
  我们一见钟情，他6周后就向我求婚了。
• My parents were dubious about it at first but we soon convinced them.
  我父母起初对此心存疑虑，但是我们很快就让他们信服了。
• I found English difficult at first.
  原先我觉得英语难学。
• The city might be grim at first, but there is a vibrancy and excitement.
  这座城市最初可能并不吸引人，但是它有一种生机和活力。