How to say "First" in Japanese

When translating "first" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between まず and 上旬. In Japanese, まず (まず (mazu)) is typically associated with "first of all, to begin with" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Used when listing steps or priorities. It indicates the very first action to be taken in a sequence.. On the other hand, 上旬 (じょうじゅん (jōjun)) maps to "first third of a month, early part of a month (approx. 1st-10th)" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to the approximate first 10 days of a month. Often used with a month name, e.g., 10月上旬. A literal translation of "first" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!