JLPT N2 Grammar
· Upper Intermediate
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· Upper Intermediate
Starting with; beginning with
Category: Limit & Range
The grammar pattern "N ＋ を皮切りに（して） / を皮切りとして" is used to describe an event that serves as the starting point for a series of similar successive events. It is often used in formal or reporting contexts to introduce a sequence of events. The pattern emphasizes the beginning of a chain of actions or developments, implying that the described event is the initial step in a larger process.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | Noun + を皮切りに | 映画の公開 |
| Verb | Verb + を皮切りにして | 映画の公開を皮切りにして |
| Noun | Noun + を皮切りとして | 映画の公開を皮切りとして |
今回の東京公演を皮切りに、全国10都市でコンサートが行われる予定だ。
Konbento no Tokyo gōen o kikiri ni, zenkoku jū toshi de konseruto ga okureru yotei da.
This Tokyo performance will be the starting point for concerts in 10 cities across the country.
今回の東京公演 (This Tokyo performance) を皮切りに (starting with) 全国10都市 (10 cities across the country) でコンサートが行われる予定だ (concerts will be held)
その俳優はA映画への出演を皮切りに、次々と話題作に抜擢されるようになった。
Sono haiyū wa A eiga e no shutsuen o kikiri ni, tsugi tsugi to wadai sakuga ni hatsuhyō sareru yō ni natta.
The actor's appearance in A film marked the beginning of his selection for increasingly popular films.
その俳優 (the actor) はA映画への出演 (appearance in A film) を皮切りに (starting with) 次々と (one after another) 話題作 (popular films) に抜擢される (selected) ようになった (became)
新商品の発売を皮切りとして、全国各地でキャンペーンが展開された。
Shin shōhin no hatsubai o kikiri to shite, zenkoku kaku chi de kyapen ga tenkai sareta.
The release of the new product served as the starting point for a nationwide campaign.
新商品の発売 (release of the new product) を皮切りとして (as the starting point) 全国各地 (nationwide) でキャンペーン (campaign) が展開された (was carried out)
This pattern is often used in formal or reporting contexts to describe the beginning of a sequence of events. It is more suitable for describing a series of events rather than a single isolated action. The use of を (o) emphasizes the starting point of the sequence.
While both patterns describe the beginning of a sequence, "はじめに" is more general and can be used for a single action, whereas "を皮切りに" emphasizes the starting point of a series of events.
This pattern is specifically designed to describe the beginning of a sequence of events, so using it for a single isolated action may not convey the intended meaning.
The particle "を" is used to emphasize the starting point of the sequence, so using it incorrectly may change the meaning of the sentence.
When using "を皮切りに" in the JLPT exam, make sure to describe a series of events and use the correct particle "を" to emphasize the starting point. Be careful not to confuse it with generic sequence markers like 'はじめに'.
今回の東京公演______、全国10都市でコンサートが行われる予定だ。
Our adaptive engine will quiz you on this grammar pattern and track your progress toward mastery.