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N3

をはじめ

Not only...but also..., Starting with

私わたしの近所きんじょには、公園こうえんをはじめ、博物館はくぶつかんやプラネタリウムなどがある。

In my neighbourhood there's a park, a museum, a planetarium and more.

Explanation

「Nをはじめ」 means 'starting with N' or 'led by N'. You name the most representative or important member of a field or group, then bring in the whole group of similar things that includes it. The tone is formal, used in speeches, news, ceremonies and official documents. Before a verb use 「をはじめ(として)」; before a noun use 「をはじめとする+noun」: 「社長をはじめとする役員の方々」 (the executives, led by the president).

Mixed up with

Before a noun use 「~をはじめとする+noun」 (「をはじめとした+noun」 is also fine). Exams put 「×をはじめの」 in as a wrong choice.

The thing named first must be part of the larger group (the president is one of the executives, Mt. Fuji is one of many mountains). If it is not included, the sentence is wrong.

Examples

  1. この商品しょうひんには卵たまごをはじめとする多おおくのアレルゲンが含ふくまれている。

    This product contains many allergens, eggs first among them.

  2. 社長しゃちょうをはじめ、社員しゃいんも皆みな同おなじ目標もくひょうを持もってがんばっています。

    Starting with the company president, the employees are also doing their best with common, firm goals in mind.

  3. スーツをはじめ、シャツや靴くつも新あたらしくした。

    Starting with a suit, I also upgraded my shirts and shoes.

Tested 2 times in past papers

N2 · Dec 2017, Q47N2 · Dec 2013, Q46