Which form is はじめまして?


So I've learned that はじめまして is used in first meetings and that it stems from
the verb はじめる (to start; to begin). But what form is it? It's apparently not
the polite past form, which has a -た at the end (はじめました). Is it a proper verb
form of はじめる anyway or should it simply be seen as a set expression?




To break it down, はじめまして is the て form of はじめます, and はじめます is the polite form
of はじめる.

はじめまして is a fixed expression.

You'll see ～～まして in some fixed expressions such as:

>   * あけ **まして** おめでとうございます。-- Happy new year.
>   * どういたし **まして** 。-- You are welcome.
>

as well as in polite/formal speech or writing such as:

>   * ご来店ください **まして** 、誠にありがとうございます。  
>  -- Thank you for visiting our store.
>   * ご迷惑をおかけし **まして** 、申し訳ございません。  
>  -- We are sorry to have troubled you.
>




To break it down, はじめまして is the て form of はじめます, and はじめます is the polite form
of はじめる.

はじめまして is a fixed expression.

You'll see ～～まして in some fixed expressions such as:

>   * あけ **まして** おめでとうございます。-- Happy new year.
>   * どういたし **まして** 。-- You are welcome.
>

as well as in polite/formal speech or writing such as:

>   * ご来店ください **まして** 、誠にありがとうございます。  
>  -- Thank you for visiting our store.
>   * ご迷惑をおかけし **まして** 、申し訳ございません。  
>  -- We are sorry to have troubled you.
>

