〜てはじめて means "only after" or "not until" — Y is realized or understood for the first time after X.
First realization - Only after X did I understand Y
Prerequisite experience - Not until X happens can you know Y
Only after getting sick did I understand the value of health.
Emphasizes that the realization came through experience.
Verb て-form + はじめて
Common patterns:
- てはじめて分かる (only then understand)
- てはじめて気づく (only then notice)
Only after losing it did I realize how important it was.
Only after becoming a parent can you understand parents' feelings.
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