をはじめ
Including / Starting With
wohajime
TypeCompound
JLPT Leveln2
Summary
Indicates a primary example followed by others of the same category: 'including', 'starting with'.
Usage Rules
- •Starting with: primary example + others
- •Including: XをはじめY = X and other Y
- •〜をはじめとする + noun = including X
- •Used to list a representative item
- •Formal/semi-formal register
- •Common in introductions and announcements
Example Sentences
とうきょうをはじめ、日本のとしはぶっかが高い。
Starting with Tokyo, Japanese cities have high prices.
しゃちょうをはじめしゃいんぜんいんがさんかした。
Including the president, all employees participated.
日本をはじめ、アジアかっこくで人気がある。
It's popular in Japan and other Asian countries.
えいごをはじめ、五ヶ国語を話す。
She speaks five languages, including English.
日本りょうりをはじめとするアジアりょうりがすきだ。
I like Asian food, including Japanese food.
Common Mistake
Using をはじめ when the items listed are not in the same category (they must be related).