〜を皮切りに (~o kawakiri ni) — starting with ~ (then many more)
One thing came first, then more of the same spread one after another.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- On the news: 「人気バンドが、来月の東京公演を皮切りに全国20都市を回る」.
- It is used for things that grow and spread — business, tours, events.
Meaning
- 皮切り literally means 'the first cut' — one thing starts, then more of the same follow one after another and spread.
- It has a time order: X first, then a whole run — 次々に・相次いで・全国で.
How to attach
- N + を皮切りに
- For a verb clause, make it a noun with 「の」: 成功したのを皮切りに
- You will also see 「を皮切りにして」and 「を皮切りとして」with the same meaning.
Versus what you know
N3「〜をはじめ」(東京をはじめ、大阪や京都でも…) shows a representative example, 'X and others' — with no time order.
Watch out
Not for bad things or natural events like an illness spreading or earthquakes (× 一人の風邪を皮切りにクラス中に広がった).
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
この新商品は、北海道での販売を皮切りに、全国のコンビニに広がった。
このしんしょうひんは、ほっかいどうでのはんばいをかわきりに、ぜんこくのコンビニにひろがった。
Starting with sales in Hokkaido, this new product spread to convenience stores nationwide.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 北海道での販売 = sales in Hokkaido (the first) → 「を皮切りに」 = starting from there → then what spread: 全国のコンビニに広がった.
彼女の一言を皮切りに、会議ではさまざまな意見が出始めた。
かのじょのひとことをかわきりに、かいぎではさまざまないけんがではじめた。
Starting with a single remark from her, all kinds of opinions began to come out in the meeting.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 一言 = one remark (the first words spoken) → 「を皮切りに」 → then the many things that came after it: さまざまな意見が出始めた.
大手1社が値下げしたのを皮切りに、各社が次々と料金を下げた。
おおて1しゃがねさげしたのをかわきりに、かくしゃがつぎつぎとりょうきんをさげた。
Starting with one major company cutting its prices, the others lowered their fees one after another.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 値下げした = cut prices (a verb) → 「の」 turns it into a noun: 値下げしたの → 「を皮切りに」 → then a chain: 各社が次々と (one after another) 料金を下げた.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「大阪で成功した＿を皮切りに、全国に次々と店を出した。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: The word that turns a verb clause into a noun.
Plain verb + の + を皮切りに. 成功したのを皮切りに = starting with its success.
In which sentence is 「を皮切りに」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Is the thing that spreads good or bad?
を皮切りに is not used for bad things like an illness spreading; it is for business, tours or work that expands.
「来週の京都＿＿＿、新しい映画の上映会が全国で順番に開かれる。」— which says 'X first, then in turn'?
💡 Hint: Is there a time order (first → the rest)?
Kyoto first, then other places in turn → を皮切りに. をはじめ means 'X and others' and gives no time order.
Your score: /3