Decoded Slug: ～てはじめて (〜te hajimete)
Japanese JLPT Grammar Point
～てはじめて (〜te hajimete)
～てはじめて (〜te hajimete)
Short explanation:
Express realization or action done for the first time; 'only after', 'not until'.
Formation:
Verb-て form + はじめて
Examples:
海外に行ってはじめて、日本の良さが分かりました。
Kaigai ni itte hajimete, Nihon no yosa ga wakarimashita.
Only after going abroad, I understood the good points of Japan.
彼女と別れてはじめて、彼女の大切さに気づいた。
Kanojo to wakarete hajimete, kanojo no taisetsusa ni kizuita.
I realized how important she was to me only after we broke up.
大学を卒業してはじめて、学生時代が楽しかったことに気づいた。
Daigaku wo sotsugyou shite hajimete, gakusei jidai ga tanoshikatta koto ni kizuita.
I realized how fun my student days were only after I graduated from university.
子供ができてはじめて、親の愛情がわかった。
Kodomo ga dekite hajimete, oya no aijou ga wakatta.
I understood my parents' love only after having my own child.
Long explanation:
The ～てはじめて grammar point is used to express that something is realized or done for the first time after a certain action or event occurred. It can be translated as 'only after' or 'not until' in English. The formation is straightforward: simply attach て-form of a verb with はじめて.
