JLPT N1 Grammar
· Advanced
Search pages and navigate
· Advanced
Starting with
Category: Time and Sequence
The grammar pattern "名詞 + を皮切りに（して）/ を皮切りとして" is used to indicate that one event triggers a succession of similar events or activities. It implies that the first action was the start of a series or a momentum. This pattern is often used to describe a chain of events that follow a particular incident or occurrence. It can also be used to highlight the significance of an event as a starting point for a series of subsequent events.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | 名詞 + を皮切りに（して）/ を皮切りとして | 劇団の東京公演を皮切りに、全国ツアーが始まった。 |
| Noun (Topic Marker) | ～を皮切りに（して）/ を皮切りとして | 東京公演を皮切りに、劇団の全国ツアーが始まった。 |
| Noun (Object Marker) | 名詞を皮切りに（して）/ を皮切りとして | 劇団の東京公演を皮切りに、全国ツアーが始まった。 |
東京公演を皮切りに、劇団の全国ツアーが始まった。
Tokyo kōen o kisagiri ni, gekidan no zenkoku tsuā ga hajimatta.
Starting with the Tokyo performance, the theater company's national tour began.
東京公演 (Tokyo performance) + を皮切りに (to start with) + 劇団の全国ツアー (theater company's national tour) が始まった (began)
彼の大ヒット作を皮切りに、多くの名作が生み出された。
Kare no daihittu sakuhin o kisagiri ni, takai mei-sakuhin ga umiidasareta.
Starting with his big hit work, many masterpieces were born.
彼の大ヒット作 (his big hit work) + を皮切りに (to start with) + 多くの名作が生み出された (many masterpieces were born)
一人の選手が抗議の声を上げたことを皮切りに、次々と賛同者が現れた。
Ichi-nin shūshin ga kōi no koe o ageta koto o kisagiri ni, tsugi-tsugi to sanjōsha ga arawareta.
Starting with one player raising a protest voice, supporters appeared one after another.
一人の選手が抗議の声を上げたことを (one player raised a protest voice) + 皮切りに (to start with) + 次々と賛同者が現れた (supporters appeared one after another)
This pattern is used to describe a chain of events that follow a particular incident or occurrence. It can also be used to highlight the significance of an event as a starting point for a series of subsequent events. The pattern is often used in formal or written Japanese. In informal or spoken Japanese, the pattern may be replaced with a simpler phrase, such as "～から始まった".
This pattern implies a sequence of events, so it cannot be used for a single event without a sequence following.
This pattern implies a positive sequence of events, so it cannot be used for negative cycles.
～をきっかけに is a general trigger pattern, while を皮切りに is used to describe a chain of events.
Pay attention to the context and the sequence of events when using this pattern. Make sure to use the correct pattern depending on the context.
東京公演______、この劇団の全国ツアーが始まった。
Our adaptive engine will quiz you on this grammar pattern and track your progress toward mastery.