GRAMMAR DETAIL
〜をはじめ
Introduces a representative example first and includes other members of the same category.
Examples
会長をはじめ多くの会員が式典に参加した。
Many members, including the chairperson, attended the ceremony.
Words used
日本語教師をはじめ、専門家が集まった。
Experts, including Japanese-language teachers, gathered.
Words used
東京をはじめ各地で桜が咲き始めた。
Cherry blossoms have begun to bloom in Tokyo and other places across the country.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
をはじめintroduces a representative item and includes other members of the same category with it. - Basic usage:
会長をはじめ多くの会員が式典に参加した。reports many members' attendance, naming the chairperson as a leading example.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- A representative example versus a start in time
東京をはじめ各地で桜が咲いたgives Tokyo as a representative among several locations. Unlike作業を始めた, which states the start of an activity,をはじめhere links members of a group.
- Connecting to a noun
をはじめとするcan precede the noun for the people or things grouped together, as in会長をはじめとする会員.会長をはじめ、会員が集まったinstead names the representative before continuing the sentence.