word choice - What is the difference between 「はじめてのX」 {hajimete no X} and 「はじめのX」 {hajime no X}?

There is a song with title {hajimete no asa} and another song with title {hajime no hi}. There is also a manga title {hajimete no aku}, and not to forget the popular boxing manga {hajime no ippo}.

So what is the difference between 「はじめてのX」 {hajimete no X} and 「はじめのX」 {hajime no X}? How do we choose to use one over the other?

Answer

はじめ hajime is "the beginning", so はじめの日 hajime no hi should be translated as "The day of the beginning" or "The day it begun" and はじめの一歩 hajime no ippo as "The step that started it".

はじめて hajimete is "for the first time", so はじめての朝 hajimete no asa would be "(My) first morning" and はじめてのあく hajimete no aku would be "My first Aku" (apparently officially "My first Mr. Akuno").

In normal English both expressions would usually be translated as "first" though: "The first day", "The first step".

Compare:

• 初めのキス hajime no kisu - The first kiss ("The kiss with which it began")


• 初めてのキス hajimete no kisu - (My) first kiss ("(My) first experience of kissing")