初期

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 初期 (しょき) is a noun for the early stage or initial period of a process or career.
• Basic usage: 計画の初期に marks when objectives and roles were clarified, while 画家の初期の作風 modifies the style from the early part of an artist’s career.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Time point に and attributive の
  • 初期に marks the time of an action, whereas 初期の作風 has the period noun modify a style. 初期 alone does not specify whether the frame is a project or an artist’s career.