Meaning & Usage
The grammar pattern 「をはじめ」(wo hajime) is an important N3-level expression. It's used to introduce a prominent or representative item from a larger group, indicating that other similar items are also present or understood.
It literally translates to "starting with..." or "beginning with...", but its practical meaning extends to "including...", "led by...", or "most notably...". This phrase is particularly useful when you want to mention a key example while showing that the list isn't exhaustive and includes other similar members.
It highlights a key member of a group, drawing attention to a specific individual, organization, or item as a primary example, while still acknowledging the existence of others.
In English, you might use phrases like "starting with X," "including X," "X and others," or "with X as the leader." However, 「をはじめ」carries a slightly more formal and often more comprehensive nuance.
For instance, consider the sentence: 「田中さんをはじめ、多くの人がパーティーに来ました。」(Tanaka-san wo hajime, ooku no hito ga paatii ni kimashita.). This translates to "Many people came to the party, including Mr. Tanaka." Here, Tanaka-san is highlighted as a notable figure, implying he was perhaps the most important attendee or the first one you'd think to mention. It's not just a simple list; it emphasizes Tanaka-san as a representative figure within a larger group of attendees.
This grammar point is quite versatile and can be used in various contexts, from describing groups of people or organizations to listing different types of items or concepts. It is generally used in more formal or semi-formal situations, such as news reports, official statements, or academic writing, rather than casual conversation. While it can appear in spoken language, especially when discussing formal topics or giving presentations, it maintains a degree of formality.
Think of 「をはじめ」 as a spotlight highlighting a key individual in a group. While this person is important, the expression implies that the entire group behind them also plays a significant role or is relevant to the discussion. It suggests a structured inclusion rather than a casual enumeration. The item preceding 「をはじめ」 is always a noun.
Structure & Formation
The structure of 「をはじめ」 is straightforward: it always follows a noun.
Formation:
Noun + をはじめ
This pattern connects directly to a noun that acts as the representative or primary item of a larger group. It is never used with verbs; for example, 「食べるをはじめ」is incorrect. It also does not directly follow adjectives. The core idea is that the noun specified before 「をはじめ」is the starting point or the most prominent member of an implied or explicitly stated group.
Variations in usage:
The most common form is Noun + をはじめ + Noun (group) + が/は/も etc.
Example: **社長をはじめ、全社員が新しいプロジェクトに賛成**した。
Meaning: Starting with the president, all employees approved the new project.
Sometimes, the larger group can be implied from context. Alternatively, the sentence might continue with a description of the group's actions or characteristics without explicitly stating the group noun immediately after 「をはじめ」.
Example: **東京をはじめ、各地で桜が満開**になった。
Meaning: Starting with Tokyo, cherry blossoms are in full bloom in various places.
The grammatical particle 「を」(wo) marks the preceding noun as the object or focal point, which then initiates the representation of the larger group. The 「はじめ」part comes from the verb 「始める」(hajimeru), meaning "to begin" or "to start." However, in this grammatical construction, it functions as a fixed phrase. It's important to remember that the noun preceding 「をはじめ」is a single, specific entity, even if it represents a category.
Example Sentences
People and Organizations
先生をはじめ、生徒たちもその発表に感動した。
Sensei wo hajime, seito-tachi mo sono happyō ni kandō shita.
Starting with the teacher, the students were also moved by the presentation.
田中さんをはじめ、多くの関係者が会議に参加しました。
Tanaka-san wo hajime, ooku no kankeisha ga kaigi ni sanka shimashita.
Many people involved, including Mr. Tanaka, attended the meeting.
社長をはじめ、役員全員が新しい方針を支持しました。
Shachō wo hajime, yakuin zen'in ga atarashii hōshin wo shiji shimashita.
Starting with the president, all executives supported the new policy.
日本をはじめ、アジア各国でこの製品が人気です。
Nihon wo hajime, Ajia kakkoku de kono seihin ga ninki desu.
This product is popular in various Asian countries, including Japan.
彼女をはじめ、チームの皆が受賞を喜びました。
Kanojo wo hajime, chīmu no mina ga jushō wo yorokobimashita.
Everyone on the team, including her, rejoiced at the award.
Places and Events
東京をはじめ、日本の大都市では物価が高い。
Tōkyō wo hajime, Nihon no daitoshi dewa bukka ga takai.
Prices are high in major Japanese cities, including Tokyo.
富士山をはじめ、多くの山々が連なっています。
Fuji-san wo hajime, ooku no yamayama ga tsuranatte imasu.
Many mountains are connected like a range, including Mt. Fuji.
夏祭りをはじめ、様々な行事が中止になりました。
Natsumatsuri wo hajime, samazama na gyōji ga chūshi ni narimashita.
Various events, including the summer festival, were canceled.
会議をはじめ、懇親会など多くのプログラムが予定されている。
Kaigi wo hajime, konshinkai nado ooku no puroguramu ga yotei sarete iru.
Many programs are planned, including a conference and a social gathering.
Objects and Concepts
小説をはじめ、漫画やアニメなど、日本の文化は世界中で愛されている。
Shōsetsu wo hajime, manga ya anime nado, Nihon no bunka wa sekaijū de aisarete iru.
Japanese culture, including novels, manga, and anime, is loved all over the world.
健康をはじめ、家族や仕事のことなど、人生には色々な悩みがある。
Kenkō wo hajime, kazoku ya shigoto no koto nado, jinsei ni wa iroiro na nayami ga aru.
Life has various worries, including health, family, and work.
英語をはじめ、フランス語やドイツ語など、彼は多くの言語を話せる。
Eigo wo hajime, Furansugo ya Doitsugo nado, kare wa ooku no gengo wo hanaseru.
He can speak many languages, including English, French, and German.
野菜をはじめ、果物も毎日食べるようにしている。
Yasai wo hajime, kudamono mo mainichi taberu yō ni shite iru.
I try to eat fruits daily, including vegetables.
歴史をはじめ、地理や文学など、幅広いジャンルに興味がある。
Rekishi wo hajime, chiri ya bungaku nado, habahiroi janru ni kyōmi ga aru.
I'm interested in a wide range of genres, including history, geography, and literature.
新たなサービスを開始し、割引をはじめとしたキャンペーンを展開している。
Arata na sābisu wo kaishi shi, waribiki wo hajime to shita kyanpēn wo tenkai shite iru.
We have started a new service and are rolling out campaigns, including discounts.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using with verbs or adjectives directly
❌ 歩くをはじめ、走るのも好きだ。
✅ 散歩をはじめ、運動することが好きだ。
Explanation: 「をはじめ」must always follow a noun. It cannot directly follow a verb in its dictionary form or an adjective. If you want to include activities, you need to nominalize them (e.g., using の or turning them into noun forms like 「散歩」for "walking"). The original sentence "歩くをはじめ、走るのも好きだ" incorrectly attaches 「をはじめ」to the verb 「歩く」(aruku, "to walk"). The correct usage involves a noun, such as 「散歩」(sanpo, "a walk" or "stroll"), which is a noun form for walking, to represent the activity.
Mistake 2: Using when only one item is being mentioned
❌ 彼は映画をはじめが好きだ。
✅ 彼は映画が好きだ。
Explanation: 「をはじめ」implies there's a larger group from which the mentioned item is a representative. If you're only talking about one thing, using 「をはじめ」is redundant and unnatural. The purpose of this grammar is to signal that the given noun is merely the start of a list or a prominent example of a broader category, not the sole subject of discussion.
Mistake 3: Confusing with simple listing particles like 「と」 or 「や」
❌ 本をはじめ、ペンを買いました。
✅ 本やペンを買いました。
Explanation: While 「をはじめ」does introduce items, it's not a simple conjunction or particle for listing. 「と」is for exhaustive lists, and 「や」is for non-exhaustive lists where items are merely examples. 「をはじめ」specifically highlights one item as a prominent example from a group of similar items. Using it for a simple list of two items makes it sound awkward, as it implies a much larger, diverse set that isn't present.
Mistake 4: Not identifying the larger group clearly (or implicitly)
❌ 部長をはじめ、今日は会社に来ない。
✅ 部長をはじめ、数人が今日は会社に来ない。
Explanation: For 「をはじめ」to function correctly, there must be a clear implication or explicit mention of a larger group that the initial noun belongs to. In the incorrect sentence, "部長をはじめ、今日は会社に来ない" (Buchō wo hajime, kyō wa kaisha ni konai), it's unclear who else, besides the department head, is not coming to the office. The corrected sentence specifies "数人" (sūnin, "several people"), making the larger group explicit and the usage of 「をはじめ」natural. The representative item needs a group to represent.
Cultural Notes
In Japanese society, the concepts of hierarchy and group identity are very strong. 「をはじめ」fits well into this cultural context by allowing speakers to acknowledge a leading figure or a representative item while also giving due respect or consideration to the broader collective. When you use 「をはじめ」, you're not just listing; you're subtly indicating a structure where the mentioned item holds a significant, often leadership or exemplary, position within its group.
This grammar point is frequently encountered in formal settings such as business meetings, political speeches, and academic papers. For instance, when a company president addresses their employees, they might say something like 「部長をはじめ、社員の皆様」(buchō wo hajime, shain no minasama), meaning "To all employees, starting with the department heads." This demonstrates respect for the hierarchy while addressing everyone collectively.
Similarly, in news reports, when mentioning a disaster's impact, a journalist might say 「東京をはじめ、関東地方の各地で被害が報告された」(Tōkyō wo hajime, Kantō chihō no kakuchi de higai ga hōkoku sareta), meaning "Damage was reported in various parts of the Kanto region, starting with Tokyo." This highlights the capital city as a key affected area while encompassing the entire region.
It is less common in very casual, intimate conversations unless the topic itself is formal or requires a structured enumeration. Its usage adds a level of politeness and sophistication, acknowledging that the world is often composed of interconnected groups, not just isolated individuals or items. It implies a degree of completeness in understanding the scope of the group, even if not every member is explicitly named.
JLPT Tips
When encountering 「をはじめ」in the JLPT N3 exam, it's crucial to identify the noun that precedes it, as this noun is the representative item of a larger group. The question will often test your understanding of this relationship: that the mentioned noun is one of many, and not the sole subject. Look for contextual clues that suggest a broader category or collection of similar things. For example, if the sentence talks about "fruits," and "applesをはじめ," it means "apples and other fruits."
Pay close attention to the particles used after the larger group or following the main clause. These particles (like が, は, も, など) will clarify the role of the entire group in the sentence. Remember that 「をはじめ」is a set phrase, so you shouldn't try to conjugate 「はじめ」or use it in different forms. Its structure is rigid: Noun + をはじめ.
A common distractor in the exam might involve simple listing particles like 「や」or 「と」. While these also list items, 「をはじめ」carries the specific nuance of selecting a prominent or initial example from a larger, often undefined, group. It adds a sense of formality and comprehensiveness to the statement, implying a more structured collection than a casual enumeration. If you see a leading example followed by a general category, 「をはじめ」is a strong candidate. Look for sentences that present one key item and then broadly refer to its category or other similar items.