初 means first and is a JLPT N3 kanji. It has 7 strokes and uses the knife radical (刀).
Stroke order · 7 strokes
On'yomi (音読み)
ショ
Kun'yomi (訓読み)
はじ(め)、はつ、うい
Radical
刀 · knife
Strokes
7
How to remember 初
Taking the first cut (刀) into cloth (衤) — the tailor's very first step. 初めて (for the first time) — the phrase for every first experience upon landing in Japan.