目錄
The Japanese/Korean expression 「을/를 필두로」 often appears in news reports, reports, and workplace contexts, with a meaning close to “with … at the forefront” or “led by ….” In expressions such as 「미국을 필두로」 and 「회장을 필두로」, the noun that comes before it is placed at the front of a group of people or things, followed by other members of the same category.
This pattern is especially easy to confuse with 「을/를 비롯해서」 and 「을/를 중심으로」. All three expressions can be followed by an entire group of people, countries, or organizations, but the role of the first element in the sentence is different. 「필두로」 conveys the idea of being at the front or heading the group; 「비롯해서」 is more about starting a list with one item; and 「중심으로」 describes other people or things developing around a particular center. Once you separate these relationships, it becomes much easier to determine which sentences are appropriate for 「을/를 필두로」.
What does 「을/를 필두로」 mean? It means “with … at the forefront” or “at the head of a group”
「을/를 필두로」 is commonly translated as “with N at the forefront,” “led by N,” or “with N heading the group.” It places the preceding noun at the front of a group of people or things. The noun 「필두（筆頭）」 is pronounced [필뚜] and itself means being at the very front or occupying the leading position. For that reason, the first element is usually more prominent than the other members that follow. It may be a leader, a major organization, or simply a representative member placed first within the group. The expression has a distinctly formal tone and is common in news reports, formal reports, organizational introductions, and workplace explanations.
How to attach Korean 「을/를 필두로」: What changes depending on whether there is a 받침? How are 「필두로 하여」 and 「필두로 한」 used?
「을/를 필두로」 attaches to a noun, and whether you use 「을」 or 「를」 depends on whether the noun ends in a 받침. If there is a 받침, use 「을 필두로」, as in 「미국을 필두로」 and 「기획팀을 필두로」. If there is no 받침, use 「를 필두로」, as in 「대표를 필두로」 and 「배우를 필두로」. The 「을／를」 here cannot simply be omitted to leave 「필두로」 on its own. The entire structure 「N을/를 필두로」 means “with N at the forefront” or “placing N at the front of the group.”
In addition to the basic 「을/를 필두로」 form, formal writing also uses 「을/를 필두로 하여」 and 「을/를 필두로 한」. 「필두로 하여」 is followed by a complete clause and is very close in meaning to 「필두로」, though it is a fuller form. 「필두로 한」 directly modifies the noun that follows. For example, 「회장을 필두로 한 임원진」 means “the executive team headed by the chairperson.”
| Attachment type | Form | Example | Usage |
| Noun with 받침 | N＋을 필두로 | 미국을 필두로、기획팀을 필두로 | Followed by a complete clause |
| Noun without 받침 | N＋를 필두로 | 대표를 필두로、배우를 필두로 | Followed by a complete clause |
| Full connective form | N＋을/를 필두로 하여 | 미국을 필두로 하여 | Followed by a complete clause; common in formal writing |
| Noun-modifying form | N＋을/를 필두로 한＋noun | 회장을 필두로 한 임원진 | The whole phrase modifies the following noun |
Attaching 「을/를 필두로」①｜Use 「을 필두로」 after a noun with 받침
When the preceding noun has a 받침, use 「을 필두로」. For example, 「미국」 ends in the 받침 ㄱ, so it becomes 「미국을 필두로」. 「기획팀」 ends in the 받침 ㅁ, so it becomes 「기획팀을 필두로」. 「회장」 ends in the 받침 ㅇ, so it takes 「을 필두로」 as well.
No other change to the noun is required. You simply attach 「을 필두로」 directly to the full noun. What really requires attention is the meaning of the sentence: the first element is normally positioned at the front of the group that follows, so you cannot replace every Chinese expression meaning “including …” with 「필두로」.
- Example: 미국을 필두로 여러 나라가 공동 대응에 나섰다.
Romanization: mi-guk-eul pil-du-ro yeo-reo na-ra-ga gong-dong dae-eung-e na-seot-da.
Translation: Led by the United States, several countries took joint action.
「미국」 ends in the 받침 ㄱ, so it takes 「을 필두로」. The sentence first places the United States at the front of the group of countries, then introduces the following 「여러 나라」. - Example: 기획팀을 필두로 여러 부서가 행사 준비에 참여했다.
Romanization: gi-hoek-tim-eul pil-du-ro yeo-reo bu-seo-ga haeng-sa jun-bi-e cham-yeo-haet-da.
Translation: Led by the planning team, several departments participated in preparations for the event.
「기획팀」 ends in the 받침 ㅁ, so 「기획팀을 필두로」 is used. The planning team is placed at the front of the participating departments. - Example: 회장을 필두로 임원들이 행사장에 들어왔다.
Romanization: hoe-jang-eul pil-du-ro im-won-deu-ri haeng-sa-jang-e deu-reo-wat-da.
Translation: Headed by the chairperson, the executives entered the venue.
「회장」 ends in the 받침 ㅇ, so it takes 「을 필두로」. The chairperson and the executives that follow belong to the same group, with the chairperson placed at the front.
Attaching 「을/를 필두로」②｜Use 「를 필두로」 after a noun without 받침
When the preceding noun has no 받침, use 「를 필두로」. For example, 「대표」 ends in the vowel ㅛ, so it becomes 「대표를 필두로」. 「교수」 ends in the vowel ㅜ, so it takes 「교수를 필두로」. 「배우」 likewise has no 받침, so it becomes 「배우를 필두로」.
The choice between 「을」 and 「를」 depends only on whether the noun ends in a 받침. It does not change according to whether the noun refers to a person, title, or organization. The following part usually introduces other members belonging to the same group as the first element, which is why structures such as 「대표를 필두로 협상단이……」 and 「교수를 필두로 연구진이……」 are common.
- Example: 대표를 필두로 협상단이 회의장에 입장했다.
Romanization: dae-pyo-reul pil-du-ro hyeop-sang-dan-i hoe-ui-jang-e ip-jang-haet-da.
Translation: Led by the representative, the negotiating delegation entered the meeting room.
「대표」 has no 받침, so it takes 「를 필두로」. The representative is mentioned first, while 「협상단」 refers to the delegation as a whole. - Example: 교수를 필두로 연구진이 새로운 조사를 시작했다.
Romanization: gyo-su-reul pil-du-ro yeon-gu-jin-i sae-ro-un jo-sa-reul si-jak-haet-da.
Translation: Led by the professor, the research team began a new investigation.
「교수」 has no 받침, so 「교수를 필두로」 is used. Here, the professor occupies the leading position within the research team, followed by 「연구진」. - Example: 주연배우를 필두로 출연진이 무대에 올랐다.
Romanization: ju-yeon-bae-u-reul pil-du-ro chu-ryeon-jin-i mu-dae-e ol-lat-da.
Translation: Led by the lead actor, the cast took the stage.
「주연배우」 ends without a 받침, so it takes 「를 필두로」. The sentence places the lead actor at the front of the cast rather than merely saying that the lead actor was also among those present.
Attaching 「을/를 필두로」③｜「필두로 하여」 is followed by a clause, while 「필두로 한」 modifies a noun
Both 「을/를 필두로 하여」 and 「을/를 필두로 한」 are built on 「N을/를 필두로」, but they perform different functions once placed in a sentence. In 「필두로 하여」, 「하여」 is a connective form of 「하다」, so it can be followed by a complete clause. In 「필두로 한」, 「하다」 becomes the noun-modifying form 「한」, so a noun must follow.
For example, 「미국을 필두로 하여 여러 나라가 참여했다」 is followed by a complete clause, while 「미국을 필두로 한 여러 나라」 places the entire phrase 「미국을 필두로 한」 before 「여러 나라」 and means “several countries led by the United States.” Both forms are common in news, reports, and other formal materials.
- Example: 미국을 필두로 하여 여러 나라가 공동 대응에 참여했다.
Romanization: mi-guk-eul pil-du-ro ha-yeo yeo-reo na-ra-ga gong-dong dae-eung-e cham-yeo-haet-da.
Translation: Led by the United States, several countries participated in the joint response.
「필두로 하여」 is directly followed by the complete clause 「여러 나라가……」. The basic relationship is the same as in 「미국을 필두로 여러 나라가……」, but the form is more complete. - Example: 회장을 필두로 한 임원진이 회의에 참석했다.
Romanization: hoe-jang-eul pil-du-ro han im-won-jin-i hoe-ui-e cham-seok-haet-da.
Translation: The executive team headed by the chairperson attended the meeting.
「회장을 필두로 한」 directly modifies the following 「임원진」. Here, 「한」 should not be translated in isolation; the whole phrase should be understood as “headed by the chairperson.” - Example: 기획팀을 필두로 한 여러 부서가 프로젝트에 참여했다.
Romanization: gi-hoek-tim-eul pil-du-ro han yeo-reo bu-seo-ga peu-ro-jek-teu-e cham-yeo-haet-da.
Translation: Several departments led by the planning team participated in the project.
「기획팀을 필두로 한」 modifies 「여러 부서」, first defining them as “departments led by the planning team,” after which the entire noun phrase functions as the subject of the following clause.
Korean 「을/를 필두로」 usage: Two common situations where the first element stands at the front of a group
Usage ①｜A leader or leading organization introduces the whole group
「을/를 필두로」 is most natural when the preceding noun genuinely occupies a leading position. Common examples include captains, representatives, and departments taking the lead.
- Example: 주장을 필두로 선수들이 경기장에 들어섰다.
Romanization: ju-jang-eul pil-ttu-ro seon-su-deul-i gyeong-gi-jang-e deu-reo-seot-da.
Translation: Led by the captain, the players entered the stadium.
「주장」 is inherently the person who leads the team. - Example: 대표를 필두로 협상단이 회의장에 입장했다.
Romanization: dae-pyo-reul pil-ttu-ro hyeop-sang-dan-i hoe-ui-jang-e ip-jang-haet-da.
Translation: Led by the representative, the negotiating delegation entered the meeting room.
The representative is mentioned first, followed by the negotiating delegation as a whole. - Example: 기획팀을 필두로 여러 부서가 행사 준비에 참여했다.
Romanization: gi-hoek-tim-eul pil-ttu-ro yeo-reo bu-seo-ga haeng-sa jun-bi-e cham-yeo-haet-da.
Translation: Led by the planning team, several departments participated in preparations for the event.
「기획팀」 occupies the leading position in this context.
Usage ②｜A country, company, or region that acts first is placed at the front
News reports also frequently use 「을/를 필두로」 to describe countries, companies, or regions that take action first, followed by others of the same kind.
- Example: 미국을 필두로 여러 나라가 새로운 기준 도입을 논의하고 있다.
Romanization: mi-guk-eul pil-ttu-ro yeo-reo na-ra-ga sae-ro-un gi-jun do-ip-eul non-ui-ha-go it-da.
Translation: Led by the United States, several countries are discussing the introduction of new standards.
The United States is placed in the leading position, followed by the other countries. - Example: 대기업을 필두로 친환경 포장재를 도입하는 기업이 늘고 있다.
Romanization: dae-gi-eop-eul pil-ttu-ro chin-hwan-gyeong po-jang-jae-reul do-ip-ha-neun gi-eop-i neul-go it-da.
Translation: Led by large corporations, an increasing number of companies are adopting eco-friendly packaging materials.
「대기업」 is not simply one item in a list; it refers to the group where the change is appearing first. - Example: 수도권을 필두로 공유 자전거 서비스가 여러 지역으로 확대됐다.
Romanization: su-do-gwon-eul pil-ttu-ro gong-yu ja-jeon-geo seo-bi-seu-ga yeo-reo ji-yeok-eu-ro hwak-dwae-dwaet-da.
Translation: Starting with the capital region at the forefront, bike-sharing services expanded to several other regions.
「수도권」 is placed at the starting point or in a representative leading position.
What is the difference between 「을/를 필두로」, 「을/를 비롯해서」, and 「을/를 중심으로」?
「을/를 필두로」, 「을/를 비롯해서」, and 「을/를 중심으로」 can all be followed by a group of people, organizations, or things, and in Chinese they may be translated with expressions such as “with … at the forefront,” “including …,” or “centered on ….” The real difference among the three lies in the relationship between the preceding noun and the group that follows. 「을/를 필두로」 places the first element at the front of the group and often carries a sense of leading, heading the group, or having stronger representative status. 「을/를 비롯해서」 simply introduces one item first and then includes other members of the same type. 「을/를 중심으로」 treats the first element as the center, with subsequent actions, activities, people, or things developing around it.
| Comparison | 「을/를 필두로」 | 「을/를 비롯해서」 | 「을/를 중심으로」 |
| Basic meaning | With … at the forefront / led by … | Including … | Centered on … |
| Position of the first element | At the front of the group | One member of the group | The center of the activity or scope |
| Sense of leading | Often present | Not specifically expressed | Not necessarily |
| Sense of listing | Can introduce a following group of the same type | Very strong | Not the main function |
| Relationship between first element and following group | The following members come after the first element and belong to the same group | They belong to the same range being listed | They form activities, organizations, or a scope around the first element |
| Common first elements | Representatives, major organizations, countries, companies | People, countries, regions, things | People, regions, organizations, topics |
| Common contexts | News, reports, organizational or group developments | Listing people, places, or things | Centers of activity, organizational operations, major regions or targets |
| Common Chinese translations | 以……為首／由……帶頭 | 包括……在內／以……為首列舉 | 以……為中心／圍繞…… |
| Example | 미국을 필두로 여러 나라가 공동 대응에 나섰다. | 미국을 비롯해서 여러 나라가 이 제도를 시행하고 있다. | 미국을 중심으로 여러 나라가 협의를 진행하고 있다. |
| Nuance of the example | The United States is placed at the front of this group of countries | The United States is simply one of several countries | The United States is the center around which the consultations or cooperation are organized |
▌「필두로」 vs. 「비롯해서」｜At the front of the group vs. one member being listed
Both 「필두로」 and 「비롯해서」 are frequently followed by groups such as 「여러 나라」, 「여러 사람」, and 「여러 기업」, so they can easily be confused if you look only at the surface structure. The difference is whether the first noun is positioned at the front of the group. 「필두로」 makes the first element stand out and often carries a sense of leading, heading the group, or standing at the forefront. 「비롯해서」 simply names one item first and then introduces the other members of the same type; the first element does not need to be more important than the others.
For example, 「미국을 필두로 여러 나라가 공동 대응에 나섰다」 places the United States at the forefront of the joint response. If it is changed to 「미국을 비롯해서 여러 나라가 공동 대응에 나섰다」, the sentence simply says that the United States is one of the countries participating in the joint response, without separately indicating whether it is leading the effort.
- Example: 대표를 필두로 협상단이 회의장에 들어섰다.
Romanization: dae-pyo-reul pil-du-ro hyeop-sang-dan-i hoe-ui-jang-e deu-reo-seot-da.
Translation: Led by the representative, the negotiating delegation entered the meeting room.
「대표」 is positioned at the front of the delegation as a whole, with the other members following, so 「필두로」 fits this kind of situation where there is a sense of front and back. - Example: 대표를 비롯해서 여러 관계자가 회의에 참석했다.
Romanization: dae-pyo-reul bi-rot-hae-seo yeo-reo gwan-gye-ja-ga hoe-ui-e cham-seok-haet-da.
Translation: The representative, along with several other relevant parties, attended the meeting.
This sentence simply lists the range of attendees. 「대표」 is one of them, and the sentence does not indicate that the representative led the others in attending.
▌「필두로」 vs. 「중심으로」｜Standing at the front of a group vs. becoming the center of an activity
Both 「필두로」 and 「중심으로」 can place an important person or organization near the beginning of a sentence, but they focus on different kinds of position. 「필두로」 looks at who stands at the front within a group, usually followed by other members of the same type. 「중심으로」 looks at who or what serves as the center of the entire event, with other people, activities, or changes unfolding around that first element.
For example, 「회장을 필두로 임원들이 행사장에 들어왔다」 describes a group of executives with the chairperson positioned at the front. 「회장을 중심으로 대책을 논의했다」, on the other hand, means that the discussion was conducted with the chairperson at the center. The second sentence does not mean that the chairperson was physically or hierarchically “in front of” everyone else.
- Example: 회장을 필두로 임원들이 행사장에 들어왔다.
Romanization: hoe-jang-eul pil-du-ro im-won-deu-ri haeng-sa-jang-e deu-reo-wat-da.
Translation: Headed by the chairperson, the executives entered the venue.
The chairperson and the executives belong to the same group, and the chairperson is placed at the front, so 「필두로」 is used. - Example: 회장을 중심으로 대책 회의가 열렸다.
Romanization: hoe-jang-eul jung-sim-eu-ro dae-chaek hoe-ui-ga yeol-lyeot-da.
Translation: A strategy meeting was held with the chairperson at the center.
Here, the meeting is organized around the chairperson. The focus is not on the chairperson standing in front of the others, but on the chairperson serving as the central figure of the meeting.
▌「비롯해서」 vs. 「중심으로」｜Being included in the same range vs. activity being concentrated around a center
「비롯해서」 and 「중심으로」 can both attach to regions, people, or organizations, but the perspective of the sentence is completely different. 「비롯해서」 answers the question “what else is included in the same range?” so the first element is simply one member of the listed set. 「중심으로」 answers “where, around whom, or around what does the activity mainly develop?”
For example, 「서울을 비롯해서 여러 지역에서 행사가 열렸다」 means that events were held not only in Seoul but also in other regions. 「서울을 중심으로 행사가 열렸다」 makes Seoul the main place around which the events are concentrated or organized. Both sentences mention Seoul, but Seoul plays a different role in each one.
- Example: 서울을 비롯해서 여러 지역에서 행사가 열렸다.
Romanization: seo-ul-eul bi-rot-hae-seo yeo-reo ji-yeok-e-seo haeng-sa-ga yeol-lyeot-da.
Translation: Events were held in several regions, including Seoul.
Seoul is simply mentioned first as an example, and the other regions and Seoul are all event locations. - Example: 서울을 중심으로 관련 행사가 열리고 있다.
Romanization: seo-ul-eul jung-sim-eu-ro gwan-ryeon haeng-sa-ga yeol-li-go it-da.
Translation: Related events are being held mainly around Seoul.
This sentence treats Seoul as the center where the events are primarily taking place, creating a center-and-periphery relationship between Seoul and the surrounding activities or regions.
▌How the three expressions differ when all refer to “the United States and other countries”
Suppose all of the sentences are describing joint developments involving the United States and other countries. 「필두로」, 「비롯해서」, and 「중심으로」 can all place 「미국」 first, but each sentence expresses a different relationship. 「필두로」 places the United States at the front of the group of countries; 「비롯해서」 simply lists the United States as one of the countries; and 「중심으로」 presents the cooperation or action as developing around the United States as its center.
- Example: 미국을 필두로 여러 나라가 공동 대응에 나섰다.
Romanization: mi-guk-eul pil-du-ro yeo-reo na-ra-ga gong-dong dae-eung-e na-seot-da.
Translation: Led by the United States, several countries took joint action.
The United States is placed at the forefront of the multinational action, giving the sense that it stands at the front of the group. - Example: 미국을 비롯해서 여러 나라가 이 제도를 시행하고 있다.
Romanization: mi-guk-eul bi-rot-hae-seo yeo-reo na-ra-ga i je-do-reul si-haeng-ha-go it-da.
Translation: Several countries, including the United States, are implementing this system.
The United States is simply one of the countries implementing the system, and the sentence does not say which country is taking the lead. - Example: 미국을 중심으로 여러 나라가 협의를 진행하고 있다.
Romanization: mi-guk-eul jung-sim-eu-ro yeo-reo na-ra-ga hyeop-ui-reul jin-haeng-ha-go it-da.
Translation: Several countries are holding consultations centered on the United States.
The focus here is not on the order of the countries, but on the consultations being organized around the United States as the main center.
Where is 「을/를 필두로」 commonly used? It is especially common in news, reports, and workplace contexts
「을/를 필두로」 is well suited to situations where you need to explain “who stands at the front of this group” or “which group is in the leading position.” The first element is often a person, department, or organization, but it can also be a particularly representative member of a larger group. In actual usage, other members of the same type usually follow, so the sentence often feels as though it first points out the leading member and then introduces the whole group. It is common in workplace meetings, formal reports, event descriptions, and news writing. In casual conversation, if you only want to say that someone or something is included, there is usually no need to use this expression.
▌Situation ①｜Explaining which department is leading a project
A：이번 프로젝트는 어느 팀이 주도하나요?
i-beon peu-ro-jek-teu-neun eo-neu tim-i ju-do-ha-na-yo?
Which team is leading this project?
B：기획팀을 필두로 마케팅팀과 개발팀이 함께 진행합니다.
gi-hoek-tim-eul pil-du-ro ma-ke-ting-tim-gwa gae-bal-tim-i ham-kke jin-haeng-ham-ni-da.
Led by the planning team, the marketing and development teams will work on it together.
📌 Grammar Point: 「기획팀을 필두로」 places the planning team at the front of the participating departments, followed by the marketing and development teams. This is not merely a list of which departments are taking part; it also indicates that the planning team is in the leading position. If the sentence only means “the planning, marketing, and development teams are all participating” without specifying which one is leading, 「기획팀을 비롯해서」 is more appropriate.
▌Situation ②｜Explaining that a key figure and other members attended an event together
A：주요 참석자들이 모두 도착했나요?
ju-yo cham-seok-ja-deu-ri mo-du do-cha-kaet-na-yo?
Have all the main attendees arrived?
B：네, 회장을 필두로 임원들이 행사장에 들어왔습니다.
ne, hoe-jang-eul pil-du-ro im-won-deu-ri haeng-sa-jang-e deu-reo-wat-seum-ni-da.
Yes. The executives entered the venue with the chairperson at the forefront.
📌 Grammar Point: 「회장을 필두로」 places the chairperson at the front of the group of executives, while 「임원들」 refers to the group introduced together with the chairperson. This type of sentence works well when describing a representative figure leading other members as they attend, move, or participate in an event. If changed to 「회장을 중심으로」, the meaning shifts to an event or activity developing around the chairperson, rather than the chairperson standing at the front of the group.
▌Situation ③｜Formally describing a task force formed with one department taking the lead
A：이번 태스크포스는 어떻게 구성됐나요?
i-beon tae-seu-keu-po-seu-neun eo-tteo-ke gu-seong-dwaet-na-yo?
How is this task force structured?
B：전략기획팀을 필두로 한 여러 부서의 실무진으로 구성됐습니다.
jeon-ryak-gi-hoek-tim-eul pil-du-ro han yeo-reo bu-seo-ui sil-mu-jin-eu-ro gu-seong-dwaet-seum-ni-da.
It is made up of working-level staff from several departments, led by the strategic planning team.
📌 Grammar Point: This example uses 「을/를 필두로 한＋noun」. The following 「여러 부서의 실무진」 is modified by the entire phrase 「전략기획팀을 필두로 한」. Unlike the previous two situations, where 「을/를 필두로」 is followed directly by the rest of the clause, 「필두로 한」 is common in formal introductions and written explanations when describing “a group headed by a particular person or organization.” For example, 「대표를 필두로 한 협상단」 means “a negotiating delegation headed by the representative.”
Usage notes:
- 「을/를 필두로」 is usually followed by a group, with the first element placed at the front of that group. In 「회장을 필두로 임원들이 참석했다」, 「회장」 and 「임원들」 are not two unrelated entities; rather, the chairperson is positioned at the front of the entire executive group. If you only want to say that someone is included among the group, without any sense of being at the front or taking the lead, 「을/를 비롯해서」 is more appropriate.
- 「을/를 필두로」 also has several common forms. 「기획팀을 필두로 여러 부서가 참여했다」 is followed directly by a complete clause. 「기획팀을 필두로 하여 여러 부서가 참여했다」 has a very similar meaning but uses a fuller form often found in formal writing. 「기획팀을 필두로 한 여러 부서」 directly modifies the noun that follows. All three forms preserve the relationship in which the first element stands at the front of the group; the main difference is how the following content is connected syntactically.
- 「을/를 필두로」 itself has a formal tone, so it does not need to be used in everyday conversation merely to mean “including.” For example, if you want to say “Everyone came, including Minsu,” 「민수 씨를 비롯해서 다 왔어요」 better matches the intended meaning. If you say 「민수 씨를 필두로 다 왔어요」, it adds the sense that Minsu was at the front of the group and that the others appeared together behind him. Before using 「필두로」, it helps to check whether the first element genuinely occupies a clear leading position within the group.
How to understand Korean 「을/를 필두로」 alongside Japanese 「〜を筆頭に／〜をはじめとして／〜を中心に」
Korean 「을/를 필두로」 and Japanese 「〜を筆頭に」 both place a person, organization, or other entity at the front of a group of similar things, and both are commonly translated into Chinese as “以……為首.” Their nuances are quite similar. For example, both can be used for executives headed by a chairperson or a project team led by a particular department.
However, Japanese also has the easily confused expressions 「〜をはじめとして」 and 「〜を中心に」. 「〜をはじめとして」 mainly introduces one representative example from a group of similar things and does not necessarily mean that the first element actually occupies a leading position. 「〜を中心に」 treats a person, place, or thing as the center around which other activities or entities develop. These two Japanese expressions correspond more closely to Korean 「을/를 비롯해서」 and 「을/를 중심으로」 respectively, so they cannot be interchanged simply because their Chinese translations may overlap as “with … at the forefront” or “centered on ….”
◆ Similar grammar: 「〜を筆頭に」
Japanese 「〜を筆頭に」 is the closest in meaning to Korean 「을/를 필두로」. 「筆頭」 refers to the entity placed first or regarded as the most prominent within a group of people or things. Both expressions are therefore well suited to situations where a person or organization is placed at the front of a group, followed by other members of the same type.
For example, when the planning team takes the lead in a company project or when executives attend an event headed by the chairperson, Korean can use 「필두로」 and Japanese can use 「〜を筆頭に」. Neither expression simply means “including”; the first element is more prominent than the members that follow.
- Example: 기획팀을 필두로 여러 부서가 행사 준비에 참여했다.
Romanization: gi-hoek-tim-eul pil-du-ro yeo-reo bu-seo-ga haeng-sa jun-bi-e cham-yeo-haet-da.
Translation: Led by the planning team, several departments participated in preparations for the event.
In Japanese, you can say 「企画チームを筆頭に、複数の部署がイベントの準備に参加した」.
Kana: きかくチームを ひっとうに、ふくすうの ぶしょが イベントの じゅんびに さんかした.Both Korean and Japanese mention the planning team first, then introduce the other participating departments. The planning team is not simply one of several departments being listed; it is positioned at the front of the entire group. - Example: 회장을 필두로 임원들이 행사장에 도착했다.
Romanization: hoe-jang-eul pil-du-ro im-won-deu-ri haeng-sa-jang-e do-cha-kaet-da.
Translation: Headed by the chairperson, the executives arrived at the venue.
In Japanese, you can say 「会長を筆頭に、役員たちが会場に到着した」.
Kana: かいちょうを ひっとうに、やくいんたちが かいじょうに とうちゃくした.Both sentences place the chairperson at the front of the executive group. 「필두로」 and 「〜を筆頭に」 are particularly close in situations involving groups of people like this. - Example: 미국을 필두로 여러 나라가 공동 대응에 나섰다.
Romanization: mi-guk-eul pil-du-ro yeo-reo na-ra-ga gong-dong dae-eung-e na-seot-da.
Translation: Led by the United States, several countries took joint action.
In Japanese, you can say 「アメリカを筆頭に、複数の国が共同対応に乗り出した」.
Kana: アメリカを ひっとうに、ふくすうの くにが きょうどうたいおうに のりだした.Both sentences place the United States at the forefront of the multinational action, adding a sense of being in the leading position beyond simply saying “including the United States.”
◆ Similar expression: 「〜をはじめとして」
Japanese 「〜をはじめとして」 also often places one noun first and then introduces other things of the same type, so its surface structure can look very similar to 「을/를 필두로」. However, 「〜をはじめとして」 mainly selects one representative example first when listing a group. The first element does not necessarily lead the group or occupy the front position.
In this respect, it is actually closer to Korean 「을/를 비롯해서」. For example, 「東京をはじめとして、日本各地でイベントが開かれた」 simply uses Tokyo as the first representative example before saying that events were also held elsewhere in Japan. In Korean, 「도쿄를 비롯해서」 usually reflects the original meaning more closely than 「도쿄를 필두로」.
- Example: 서울을 비롯해서 여러 지역에서 행사가 열렸다.
Romanization: seo-ul-eul bi-rot-hae-seo yeo-reo ji-yeok-e-seo haeng-sa-ga yeol-lyeot-da.
Translation: Events were held in several regions, including Seoul.
In Japanese, you can say 「ソウルをはじめとして、各地でイベントが開かれた」.
Kana: ソウルを はじめとして、かくちで イベントが ひらかれた.Seoul is simply introduced first as a representative example; it is not leading the other regions. For that reason, Korean 「비롯해서」 is more natural here than 「필두로」. - Example: 대표를 비롯해서 여러 관계자가 회의에 참석했다.
Romanization: dae-pyo-reul bi-rot-hae-seo yeo-reo gwan-gye-ja-ga hoe-ui-e cham-seok-haet-da.
Translation: The representative and several other relevant parties attended the meeting.
In Japanese, you can say 「代表をはじめとして、多くの関係者が会議に出席した」.
Kana: だいひょうを はじめとして、おおくの かんけいしゃが かいぎに しゅっせきした.The representative is simply one member mentioned first. If the Korean were changed to 「대표를 필두로」, it would add the sense that the representative stood at the front of the group, so the meaning would no longer be simple listing. - Example: 미국을 비롯해서 여러 나라에서 이 제도를 시행하고 있다.
Romanization: mi-guk-eul bi-rot-hae-seo yeo-reo na-ra-e-seo i je-do-reul si-haeng-ha-go it-da.
Translation: This system is being implemented in several countries, including the United States.
In Japanese, you can say 「アメリカをはじめとして、多くの国でこの制度が実施されている」.
Kana: アメリカを はじめとして、おおくの くにで この せいどが じっしされている.This sentence is simply listing the countries where the system is implemented and does not need to identify which country is taking the lead, so Japanese 「〜をはじめとして」 and Korean 「비롯해서」 are closer in meaning.
◆ Similar expression: 「〜を中心に」
Japanese 「〜を中心に」 and Korean 「을/를 중심으로」 can be understood in almost the same way. Both place the preceding noun in the central position and describe other people, activities, regions, or topics as developing around it. This differs from what 「필두로」 focuses on: 「필두로」 looks at who stands at the front of the group, while 「중심으로」 looks at who or what serves as the center of the whole situation.
Accordingly, even when the chairperson appears first in both sentences, 「회장을 필두로 임원들이 참석했다」 means that the chairperson stands at the front of the executive group, whereas 「회장을 중심으로 회의를 진행했다」 means that the meeting was conducted around the chairperson as its center. Japanese shows the same distinction with 「会長を筆頭に」 and 「会長を中心に」.
- Example: 회장을 중심으로 대책을 논의했다.
Romanization: hoe-jang-eul jung-sim-eu-ro dae-chaek-eul non-ui-haet-da.
Translation: They discussed countermeasures with the chairperson at the center.
In Japanese, you can say 「会長を中心に、対策について話し合った」.
Kana: かいちょうを ちゅうしんに、たいさくについて はなしあった.This does not depict a group of executives standing behind the chairperson. Instead, the discussion is organized around the chairperson, so both Korean and Japanese use a “center” expression. - Example: 서울을 중심으로 관련 행사가 열리고 있다.
Romanization: seo-ul-eul jung-sim-eu-ro gwan-ryeon haeng-sa-ga yeol-li-go it-da.
Translation: Related events are being held mainly around Seoul.
In Japanese, you can say 「ソウルを中心に、関連イベントが開かれている」.
Kana: ソウルを ちゅうしんに、かんれんイベントが ひらかれている.Seoul is the main place where the events are concentrated; it is not “leading” the other regions from the front. For that reason, you cannot switch to 「필두로」 simply because Seoul is important. - Example: 젊은 세대를 중심으로 이 서비스가 인기를 얻고 있다.
Romanization: jeol-meun se-dae-reul jung-sim-eu-ro i seo-bi-seu-ga in-gi-reul eot-go it-da.
Translation: This service is gaining popularity mainly among younger generations.
In Japanese, you can say 「若い世代を中心に、このサービスが人気を集めている」.
Kana: わかい せだいを ちゅうしんに、この サービスが にんきを あつめている.Younger generations are the main group among whom the service is popular. The sentence is not trying to rank them first within a group, so 「중심으로／〜を中心に」 is used.
◆ Differences from Japanese 「〜を筆頭に／〜をはじめとして／〜を中心に」:
Korean 「을/를 필두로」 and Japanese 「〜を筆頭に」 are the easiest pair to understand together. Both place the first element at the front of a group of similar entities. For example, 「회장을 필두로／会長を筆頭に」 can both mean “with the chairperson at the head,” followed by other executives. When a person, company, organization, or country clearly occupies a leading position, the nuances of the two expressions are very close. Japanese 「〜をはじめとして」 may also be translated into Chinese as “以……為首,” but in actual usage it more often serves to introduce a representative example in a list. The first element is simply mentioned first as a representative, followed by other similar things, and does not need to lead them. This makes it closer to Korean 「을/를 비롯해서」. When you see expressions such as 「社長をはじめ」 or 「東京をはじめ」, you should not automatically replace them with 「필두로」 simply because the Chinese translation may contain “以……為首”; you also need to check whether the first element genuinely stands at the front of the group. 「〜を中心に」 is closer to Korean 「을/를 중심으로」. Both describe a person or thing as the center of an activity, distribution, or discussion, with other content developing around it. When comparing Japanese and Korean in practice, first look at the relationship between the first element and what follows: if it stands at the front of a group of similar entities, 「필두로／〜を筆頭に」 is the closer match; if it is simply one representative item mentioned first, 「비롯해서／〜をはじめとして」 is common; and if other people or things develop around a central element, 「중심으로／〜を中心に」 is the appropriate pair.
Korean 「을/를 필두로」 is appropriate when the first element stands at the front of a group of people or things, which is why news reports often place countries, companies, representative figures, or organizations before it. A useful way to judge the expression is to look at what follows: if a group of similar entities comes afterward and the first element is clearly placed at the front of that group, 「필두로」 is usually a good fit.
If the first element is merely one member of the range being listed, 「비롯해서」 is closer to the intended meaning. If the sentence describes people or things developing around a center, use 「중심으로」 instead. The Chinese translations of these three expressions sometimes overlap, but once you look at the position of the first element within the actual sentence, the distinction is not especially difficult.
FAQs
「을/를 필두로」 means “with … at the forefront” or “led by ….” The preceding noun is usually a leader, representative, or the entity that acts first within a group, and the expression is common in news, reports, and formal explanations.
It depends on whether the preceding noun has a 받침. Use 「을 필두로」 after a noun with a 받침, as in 「미국을 필두로」; use 「를 필두로」 after a noun without a 받침, as in 「대표를 필두로」.
「을/를 필두로」 more clearly indicates that the first element leads, acts first, or stands at the front. 「을/를 비롯해서」 simply introduces one item first and then includes other members of the same type, without necessarily implying a real leadership relationship.
No. 「을/를 필두로」 describes who stands at the front and leads, while 「을/를 중심으로」 describes who or what serves as the center around which something develops. The former emphasizes a leading position; the latter emphasizes focus and scope.
It can be used, but it has a relatively formal tone. It sounds natural in news, business presentations, meeting explanations, and reports. In casual conversation, if you are simply listing people or things, 「비롯해서」, 「포함해서」, or ordinary coordination is usually more natural.