This is the 750th most frequent Korean word.
초반
"초반" means "the early stage" or "the beginning part."
초반 is referring to the 'initial period' or phase of the process, here representing the starting or early time of the project.
우리 프로젝트는 지금 초반 단계를 진행 중이에요.
Our project is currently in the early phase.
초반 is employed to describe the 'beginning segment' or initial stage of the event, in this case the game.
경기는 초반부터 매우 격렬하게 진행되었습니다.
The game was intense right from the beginning.
초반 is used to signify the 'early part' of a chronological age range, specifically the early 20s (20-23 years old).