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〜てはじめて

only after, not until

Verb て-form + はじめて

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てはじめて means you only realised, understood or could do something after a particular experience: 病気になってはじめて、健康の大切さがわかった, "only when I got ill did I realise how important health is".

The second part is usually a realisation: わかる, 知る, 気づく, 気がつく. The first part is the experience that made it possible, often an unpleasant or eye-opening one.

It's stronger than てから ("after"): it says "not before then". English often uses "it wasn't until …" or "only once …".

はじめて can also be written 初めて. It's the same word as "for the first time".

Examples

  • 病気びょうきになってはじめて、健康けんこうの大切たいせつさがわかった。

    Only when I got ill did I realise how important health is.

  • 一人ひとりで暮くらしてはじめて、親おやのありがたさを知しった。

    It wasn't until I lived alone that I appreciated my parents.

  • 言いわれてはじめて、間違まちがいに気きがついた。

    I only noticed the mistake when someone pointed it out.

  • 実際じっさいに行いってはじめて、その町まちのよさがわかる。

    You only see what's good about that town once you actually go.

  • 失うしなってはじめて、大切たいせつなものに気きづく。

    You only realise what's precious once you've lost it.

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