GRAMMAR DETAIL
〜に始まり〜に終わる
Uses representative first and last items to indicate the full breadth of a range.
Examples
準備に始まって後片づけに終わるまで、全員で協力した。
Everyone worked together from preparation through cleanup.
Words used
朝のあいさつに始まり、夜の報告に終わる一日だ。
It is a day that begins with a morning greeting and ends with an evening report.
Words used
受付に始まり会場整理に終わるすべての仕事を担当した。
I was responsible for every task, from reception through organizing the venue.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
に始まりandに終わるpair the first and last items to represent the full range between them. - Basic usage:
受付に始まり会場整理に終わるすべての仕事を担当した。describes responsibility for all tasks from reception through organizing the venue.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Linking with hajimari or hajimatte
- Both
準備に始まって後片づけに終わるand準備に始まり後片づけに終わるconnect the beginning and end. Linking with始まりsuits concise enumeration in writing.
- Both
- Connecting the endpoint to a noun
夜の報告に終わる一日identifies the evening report as the day's final item. Ending a sentence with夜の報告に終わったstates that a sequence of events concluded with that report.