Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 5: 19/22

~て(はじ)めてFor the first time, Not until, Only after, Only when, Only because

Structure

Verb[て]+ はじめて

Details

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About て初めて

(はじ)めて is an expression in Japanese that highlights one verb as being the catalyst for some particular result/state. Verb て(はじ)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)'.

In this structure, it should be noted that the (A) verb is not necessarily being done for the first time ever, just that this time resulted in the speaker's first experience of (B).

Caution

Originally, (はじ)めて 'commencing with' and (はじ)めて 'starting with' were both used with this expression. However, this is considered incorrect in modern Japanese, as only (はじ)めて strictly carries the meaning of 'for the first time'.

  • カレンダー()(はじ)めて今日(きょう)休日(きゅうじつ)ってこと()った。
    Commencing with checking the calendar, I noticed that today is a holiday.
  • カレンダー()(はじ)めて今日(きょう)休日(きゅうじつ)ってこと()った。
    Only after checking the calendar did I notice that it is a holiday today.

Examples

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    (うしな)って(はじ)めて、その価値(かち)()かりました。

    Only after I lost it, did I understand its value.

    やってみて(はじ)めて(むずか)しさを痛感(つうかん)しました。

    Only after I tried it, did I fully realize the degree of difficulty.

    (はなし)()いてみて(はじ)めて(きみ)苦労(くろう)()った。

    Only after I heard your story, did I understand what you had been through.

    テレビを()(はじ)めて地震(じしん)があったことを()った。

    It wasn't until I saw what was on TV, that I became aware of the fact that an earthquake had occured.

    指摘(してき)されて(はじ)めて寝癖(ねぐせ)がついていることに()づいた。

    Only after it was pointed out, did I notice that I had bed hair.

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