はじめて
The first time
はじめる→はじめて
はじめる is a transitive verb meaning “Start”, but when used as はじめて, it is an expression that means “First time”.
Grammatically, it is treated like an adverb, but modifies nouns with の. (の Adverb)
Examples
- はじめて見た本だ – First time seeing book. (First time I’ve seen that book).
- その人、初めて会った – First time I’ve met that person.
- 初めて知ったことにおどろいた – I was surprised at the information I learned for the first time.
- 初めて行くところはこわい – A place you’re going to for the first time is scary.
- 初めておいしい食べ物を食べた気がした – It felt like the first time I had eaten good food.
- こんなことは初めてだ – This is my first time doing something like this.
- 初めてのお使い – First errand.*
*This is the name of a famous Japanese TV show where 3-6 year old children go out on their own to do an errand. (“Old Enough!” In English, but that sounds kinda disrespectful to the theme of the show to me).
てはじめて
Until I did X, I didn’t realize/know…
Verb て Form + はじめて
はじめて can also be combined with a verb’s て form, to mean the first time you did something.
This pattern is used to expresses realization or a new appreciation for something.
There is a nuance of “finally“. It tends to pair with 知る、わかる、and 気づく。
Although typically past tense, it may be in the present/future tense as well.
This can also be てから初めて
Examples
- 子供が生まれてから初めて愛を知った。- I didn’t know what love was until after my kid was born.
- 動画を見て初めて台風の恐ろしさがわかった – I didn’t understand how terrifying Typhoons were until I saw the video.
- 日本に来てはじめて、日本語を大変さがわかった – I didn’t understand how hard Japanese was until I came to Japan.
- 彼女の顔を見て初めて、自分のしたことに気づいた – I didn’t realize what I had done until I looked at her face.
- 富士山を登って初めて自然の美しさがわかった – I didn’t understand how beautiful nature was until I climbed Mt. Fuji.
- 試験を受けて初めて自分の能力を知ることができる – You won’t know how good you are until you take the test.
- 愛する人が殺されて初めて憎しみをしる – You will know hatred for the first time when someone you love is killed.
See also ます stem + はじまる