N1 Grammar ③　に先立って

に先立って / を契機に / をはじめとして — precedence, trigger & representative

'Prior to the ceremony, practice was held.' 'Studying abroad was the catalyst for starting Japanese.' 'Starting with Japan, countries across Asia participated.'

What you'll learn

• に先立って: 'prior to / in advance of' — formal, before a significant event
• を契機に: 'triggered by / using as catalyst' — turning point of change
• をはじめとして: 'starting with / led by' — one named, others implied
• Key: に先立って=sequence; を契機に=trigger; をはじめ=representative

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