Japanese from zero · N1 Lesson 22
The launch
〜を皮切りに ・ 〜にとどまらず ・ 〜もさることながら ・ 〜と相まって ・ 〜に限ったことではない
In this lesson, you will learn to say where a series of events started with 〜を皮切りに, that something reaches beyond a limit with 〜にとどまらず, to grant one good point and add another with 〜もさることながら, that two factors work together with 〜と相まって, and that a problem is not yours alone with 〜に限ったことではない. In January the bento go on sale in Seattle, and at the end of the first week Lisa reports to Mori and Ai.
By the end you will be able to say
シアトルの 三店を皮切りに、発売しました。We launched, starting with three stores in Seattle.
いずれ、西海岸にとどまらず、全国で 売りたいです。In time, we want to sell nationwide, not just on the West Coast.
味もさることながら、箱も 好評です。The taste, of course, and the box too are well received.
円安と相まって、値段が 手頃に 見えます。Together with the weak yen, the price looks reasonable.
出だしが 鈍いのは、うちに限ったことではない。A slow start isn't just us.
The grammar in this lesson
- 〜を皮切りに — starting with — Noun + を皮切りに says this was the first of a series that followed: シアトルの 三店を皮切りに (starting with three stores in Seattle).
- 〜にとどまらず — not only; going beyond — Noun + にとどまらず says something does not stay within a limit and reaches further: 西海岸にとどまらず (beyond the West Coast).
- 〜もさることながら — X, of course, and also — Noun + もさることながら grants that X is good or important and adds something that matters as much or more.
- 〜と相まって — together with; combined with — Noun + と相まって says a second factor joins the first and the two push the same result further.
- 〜に限ったことではない — not only true of — Noun + に限ったことではない says a problem or a habit is not special to that case; it is found elsewhere too.