Noun にして初めて
Noun nishite hajimete
JLPT N1 Very formal, literary
Formation
Noun + にして初めて
Expresses 'only when/after... for the first time'.
When to use
Noun にしてはじめて: only someone like X could (彼にしてはじめて).
Explanation
The phrase Noun にして初めて is used to express a sense of realization or experience that only came about or was felt after reaching that particular stage or status. In English, it could be translated as 'only when/after... for the first time'.
Example sentences
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Only when I became an adult did I understand my parents' struggles for the first time.
Otona ni shite hajimete, oya no kurou ga wakatta.
-
Only when he turned 40 did he travel abroad for the first time.
Kare wa yonjuu-sai ni shite hajimete, kaigai ryokou o keiken shita.
-
It was only after she became a parent that she realized how challenging raising a child can be.
Kanojo wa oya ni shite hajimete, kosodate no taihensa o rikai shita.
-
Only when he became president did he feel the full weight of responsibility for the entire company.
Shachou ni shite hajimete, kaisha zentai no juuseki o tsuukan shita.
Sequence (After / As A Result)
- ～たきり〜takiriN2Express 'since then' or 'after'; used to indicate that an…
- ～上で〜ue deN2Used to express that something is done after or on the…
- ～あげく~agekuN2Expresses the outcome of a series of actions or events…
- ～以来〜iraiN2Indicates something happening 'since', 'ever since', or…
- ～末～sueN2Express the outcome after a period of time or series of…
- Verb てから～〜te karaN5Express a sequence of actions or events; 'after', 'since'…
- ～きり〜kiriN3Expresses the idea of 'only', 'since', or 'after'.
- Noun の あとでNoun no atodeN5Expresses the order of events; 'after', 'later than'.
- Verb た あとでta ato deN5Indicates an action that takes place after another action.
- ～てはじめて〜te hajimeteN3Realization or action done for the first time; 'only…
- Verb てからというものVerb te kara to iu monoN1Expresses that ever since a certain event happened, a…
- Verbる 始末だ〜ru shimatsu daN1Indicates a (often unfortunate) result or conclusion of an…