Structure
Verb[て]+ はじめて
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About て初めて
て初めて is an expression in Japanese that highlights one verb as being the catalyst for some particular result/state. Verb て初めて literally means 'with (A) done, for the first time (B)'. Often, this translates similarly to 'only after I (A) did I (B)', or 'not until (A) did I (B)'.
- 先生になって初めて、先生の大変さが分かった。It was only upon becoming a teacher, that I understood how hard it is to be one.
- 好きなバンドのコンサートに行って初めて、歌手の人が男の人だと気づいた。It wasn't until I went to a concert of my favorite band that I realized the singer was a man.
- 駅にある時間表を見て初めて、土日には電車が来ないことを知った。I didn't know that trains don't come during the weekends, until I saw the train schedule.
Caution
Originally, 始めて 'commencing with' and 初めて 'starting with' were both used with this expression. However, this is considered incorrect in modern Japanese, as only 初めて strictly carries the meaning of 'for the first time'.- カレンダーを見て始めて今日は休日だってことを知った。Commencing with checking the calendar, I noticed that today is a holiday.
- カレンダーを見て初めて今日が休日だってことを知った。Only after checking the calendar did I notice that it is a holiday today.
Synonyms
Examples
日本に来てはじめて、日本文化に興味を持った。
I didn't have any interest in Japanese culture until I came to Japan.
興味を持つ means 'to have interest in'.
京都を訪れてはじめて、京都が歴史の古い町だと分かった。
I didn't understand why Kyoto was known as a historical and ancient town until I visited there.
日本語を勉強してはじめて、他の国の言語で話す面白さを知った。
I didn't know how fun it was to speak in other languages until I started studying Japanese.
話を聞いてみてはじめて、君の苦労を知った。
Only after I heard your story, did I understand what you had been through.
テレビを見てはじめて、地震があったことを知った。
It wasn't until I saw what was on TV, that I became aware of the fact that an earthquake had occured.
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