〜をはじめ: 'Starting With' / 'Including' (N3 Grammar)
What it means
〜をはじめ picks out the prime, leading example of a bigger group and signals that the rest belong to the same set. Think "X and the like," "led by X," or "including X (as the top case)."
The point is representativeness, not order: X is the headline member, and the group extends beyond it.
日本をはじめ、アジアの多くの国でアニメは人気がある。
にほんを はじめ、アジアの おおくの くにで アニメは にんきが ある。
Anime is popular in many Asian countries, starting with Japan.
Japan = the leading example; other countries follow.
社長をはじめ、社員全員が会議に出席した。
しゃちょうを はじめ、しゃいん ぜんいんが かいぎに しゅっせきした。
Everyone attended the meeting, the president included.
をはじめ = led by / including the top person.
この図書館には漢字の本をはじめ、いろいろな教材がある。
この としょかんには かんじの ほんを はじめ、いろいろな きょうざいが ある。
This library has all sorts of study materials, starting with kanji books.
How to form it
Attach をはじめ (optionally をはじめとして) directly to a noun. For modifying a following noun, use the adnominal をはじめとする.
| Pattern | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Noun + をはじめ | 東京をはじめ |
| With として | Noun + をはじめとして | 東京をはじめとして |
| Adnominal | Noun + をはじめとする + Noun | 東京をはじめとする大都市 |
をはじめ and をはじめとして are interchangeable; として is a touch more formal. Use をはじめとする only when a noun comes right after.
先生をはじめとして、多くの人が応援してくれた。
せんせいを はじめと して、おおくの ひとが おうえんして くれた。
A lot of people cheered me on, starting with my teacher.
東京をはじめとする大都市では家賃がとても高い。
とうきょうを はじめと する だいとしでは やちんが とても たかい。
In big cities, Tokyo foremost among them, rent is extremely high.
をはじめとする directly modifies 大都市.
A note on register
〜をはじめ is formal and written. You'll meet it in news articles, speeches, business writing, brochures, and essays — not in casual chat. In conversation, people more often say 〜とか, 〜など, or simply list things. If you want a similar "centered on X" feel in a slightly different sense, compare 〜を中心に, which emphasizes X as the core/hub rather than the first-named representative.
Common mistakes
- Using の instead of を. It's always をはじめ, never のはじめ: 日本をはじめ (✓), 日本のはじめ (✗). The を is fixed and does not change with the noun.
- Reading it as "first" in a sequence. をはじめ does not mean "first, do X." It names a representative member of a group, not the first step. For "first / to begin with," use はじめに or まず.
- Confusing it with the verb 始める. Here はじめ comes from 始め ("a beginning / the leading one"), so the whole thing means "with X at the head." It is not telling someone to start an action.
- Forgetting する before a noun. To modify a noun you need the adnominal: アジアをはじめとする国々 (✓), not アジアをはじめ国々 (✗).
Quick recap
- 〜をはじめ(として) = "starting with / led by / including" the prime example of a group.
- The particle is fixed: を, never の.
- It marks a representative + others, not a sequence ("first do X").
- Use 〜をはじめとする + noun to modify a noun directly.
- Register is formal/written.
Your turn
Choose the correct use of 〜をはじめ / をはじめとする.
Start the 5-question drill →Take the full N3 〜をはじめ drill →
Frequently asked questions
Does をはじめ mean 'first' or 'starting first'?
No — that's a common trap. をはじめ names the most representative member of a group, with the rest following: 社長をはじめ、社員全員 ('everyone, the president included'). For 'first, do X,' use はじめに or まず instead.
Is it をはじめ or のはじめ?
Always をはじめ. The particle を is fixed and does not change with the preceding noun: 日本をはじめ (correct).
What's the difference between をはじめ and をはじめとする?
Same meaning. Use をはじめ (or をはじめとして) on its own, and the adnominal をはじめとする when a noun follows immediately: 東京をはじめとする大都市 ('big cities, Tokyo foremost').
Is をはじめ casual or formal?
It's formal and written — news, speeches, business and academic writing. In conversation, など, とか, or a plain list sound more natural.