Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
「～を始めとして／～を始め」means “starting with (Noun)”, “headed by (Noun)”, or “including (Noun) among others”.
🎯 Primary Function
To introduce a prominent or representative example from a larger group or list, implying that many other similar items are also included. It highlights the mentioned item as a leading example.
📋 Grammar Structure
Noun + をはじめ / をはじめとして / をはじめとする + Noun/Group
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Very common in formal discussions, presentations, and reports.
Informal Situations
Less common, can sound stiff. Simpler expressions like ～など are preferred.
Written Language
Frequently used in formal writing such as news articles, reports, and official documents.
Spoken Language
Used in formal speeches, news broadcasts, and presentations. Less frequent in casual conversation.
💡 Common Applications
Introducing a leader or prominent figure.
Used to mention the most important person in a group.
Example: 社長をはじめ、社員一同、心より感謝申し上げます。 (Shachō wo hajime, shain ichidō, kokoro yori kansha mōshiagemasu.) – Including the president, all employees sincerely thank you.
Listing a key item or location among many.
Used to pick out a significant example from a collection of similar things or places.
Example: この地域では、米をはじめとして、様々な農作物が生産されています。(Kono chiiki de wa, kome wo hajime to shite, samazama na nōsaku-butsu ga seisan sarete imasu.) – In this region, various crops are produced, starting with rice.
Referring to a group with a representative example.
Used with をはじめとする to modify a noun that represents the larger group.
Example: 東京をはじめとする大都市では、交通機関が発達しています。(Tōkyō wo hajime to suru daitoshi de wa, kōtsū kikan ga hattatsu shite imasu.) – In large cities including Tokyo, transportation systems are developed.
Frequency
Moderate to high, particularly in formal contexts.
Difficulty
Intermediate (JLPT N3). The nuance of highlighting a representative item is important.
Example Sentences
会議には社長をはじめ、各部署の代表者が出席した。
Representatives from each department attended the meeting, including the president.
このスーパーでは、新鮮な野菜をはじめとして、様々な食品が手に入ります。
At this supermarket, you can get a variety of food items, starting with fresh vegetables.
東京をはじめとする大都市で人口が増加している。
The population is increasing in large cities, including Tokyo.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Highlights a Representative Example
The noun before をはじめ/をはじめとして is presented as a prominent or leading member of a larger group.
Example: 日本には、東京をはじめ、京都や大阪など歴史的な都市がたくさんあります。(Japan has many historical cities like Kyoto and Osaka, starting with Tokyo.)
Implies Other Items Exist
This pattern is used when the listed item is one example among several. It shouldn’t be used if it’s the only item or all items are listed.
Example: このかばんには、財布をはじめ、スマホと鍵が入っています。(Incorrect usage if only these three items are in the bag.) -> このかばんには、財布とスマホと鍵が入っています。(Correct simple listing.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using it for simple listing without highlighting a representative.
✅ Ensure the noun before をはじめ represents a key example of the group.
It’s not just “A, B, and C,” but “A, as a representative example among B, C, D, etc.”
❌ Attaching it directly to verbs or i/na-adjectives.
✅ This pattern must attach to a noun.
をはじめ/をはじめとして functions as a particle or particle-like expression connecting the noun to the rest of the sentence.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Formal to semi-formal.
Social Situations: Commonly used in news, official reports, business contexts, and academic writing. Less frequent in casual conversation.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese grammar.
🔍 Subtle Differences
をはじめ vs. をはじめとして
をはじめとして is slightly more formal and can feel a bit more emphatic than をはじめ.
When to use: Both are often interchangeable, but をはじめとして might be preferred in very formal or official contexts.
をはじめとする vs. をはじめ / をはじめとして
をはじめとする is a modifying phrase that directly describes the noun that follows it. をはじめ/をはじめとして function more adverbially, introducing the representative example and implying the rest of the group.
When to use: Use をはじめとする when the phrase acts like an adjective modifying a noun (e.g., 「Noun をはじめとするグループ」). Use をはじめ/をはじめとして when the phrase introduces the representative example and the description of the group follows as the main clause.
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When to use: undefined
📝 Conjugation Notes
N/A. This pattern attaches directly to nouns.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pay attention to the pronunciation of はじめ (ha-ji-me) and として (to-shi-te).
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of 「Noun をはじめ」 as “with [Noun] at the start/head” of a list or group.
Practice Exercises
会議には田中先生＿＿、多くの学生が参加しました。
とか
など
をはじめ
だけ
この地域では、米＿＿、様々な農作物が生産されています。
ばかり
をはじめとして
といった
ほど
5 Views
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