← Grammar bank

Formation: V-て form + はじめて (also written 初めて)

〜てはじめて means that Y happened or became possible only once X had been experienced, and not before. It often carries a sense of 'I didn't appreciate this until then'. The main clause is typically a realization or a newly gained ability or understanding: わかる, 気づく, 知る, 実感する, できるようになる. It cannot be a request or a command. It is used in both speech and writing, and it is common in essays and reflective remarks. 〜てからでないと stresses that Y is impossible until X happens, while 〜てはじめて stresses the realization that came with X. The N1 pattern 〜に至って（ようやく） means 'only when things reached a serious point'.

Variants: 〜て初めて

Examples

• 病気になってはじめて、健康のありがたさがわかった。
  It was only after I got sick that I understood how precious health is.
• 親になって初めて、親の苦労を知った。
  Only when I became a parent did I learn how hard my parents had worked.
• 実際に使ってみて初めて、その製品の良さが分かる。
  You only see how good the product is once you actually use it.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

No post has used this pattern yet. Examples from real texts will appear here.