All JLPT grammar
N2

Noun を はじめ

Meaning 'starting with', 'including', 'not only... but also'.

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At a glance

Noun をはじめ means "starting with [noun]" or "including [noun]". It names one typical or prominent example, and the rest of the sentence names the larger group it belongs to.

Noun をはじめ、[larger group that includes it] ...
Noun をはじめとする / をはじめとした + Noun

社長しゃちょうをはじめ、多おおくの社員しゃいんがパーティーに参加さんかしました。 Many employees, starting with the president, took part in the party.

How to form it

All forms attach directly to a noun.

Form Used as Register Example
をはじめ Links to the rest of the sentence Formal, written and speeches 東京とうきょうをはじめ、多おおくの都市とし
をはじめとして Same as をはじめ A little more formal 京都きょうとをはじめとして、多おおくの町まち
をはじめとする Directly before a noun Formal 東京とうきょうをはじめとする大都市だいとし
をはじめとした Directly before a noun Formal 社長しゃちょうをはじめとした社員しゃいん

Examples

  • 日本料理にほんりょうりをはじめ、さまざまな料理りょうりがこのレストランで楽たのしめます。

    You can enjoy various dishes in this restaurant, starting with Japanese cuisine.

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The rest of the lesson

When to use it, common mistakes, nuances and a quick check, with spaced repetition to make it stick.

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