Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 8: 12/19

ばこそ

Precisely because, Only because, Because, Due to

Structure

Verb［ば］+ こそ + Phrase
［い］Adjective［ば］+ こそ + Phrase
［な］Adjective + であれば + こそ + Phrase
Noun + であれば + こそ + Phrase
Phrase (A)。であればこそ + Phrase(B)

Details

  • Register

    Formal

  • 使用域

    硬い

About ～ばこそ

ばこそ will be used in a similar way to からこそ, indicating that (A) is the the precise reason for (B). It will be translated as 'precisely because of (A)', or 'it is only due to (A) that (B)'. This pattern is a combination of the conjunction particle ば, and the adverbial particle こそ, which is being used in a similar way to a sentence ending particle in this case.
ばこそ may follow almost any word type that has been adjusted into its hypothetical form. However, it will appear as であればこそ when used after nouns or な-Adjectives.
  • 娘(むすめ)の将来(しょうらい)を思(おも)えばこそ、塾(じゅく)に通(かよ)わせます。
    Precisely because I am thinking about my daughter's future, I will make her attend cram school.
  • 忙(いそが)しければこそ時間(じかん)を効率的(こうりつてき)に使(つか)うことができるようになる。
    Precisely because you are busy, you will be able to use your time more efficiently.
  • 健康(けんこう)であればこそ、年(とし)をとっても楽(たの)しい人生(じんせい)を過(す)ごせる。
    You will be able to enjoy life even if you grow old, precisely because of good health.
  • 小(ちい)さな会社(かいしゃ)であればこそ、優秀(ゆうしゅう)な人材(じんざい)が必要(ひつよう)だ。
    Precisely because it is a small company, we need the best workers.
In many cases, (A) will be a reason that is difficult to conceive of as what would lead to (B) under normal circumstances, and therefore requires the speaker to emphasize it with こそ.
Caution
ばこそ is very formal, and a bit old-fashioned, so からこそ will almost always be the preferred choice in modern day Japanese.

Examples

  • 社長(しゃちょう)「皆(みな)さんがチームの一員(いちいん)として協力(きょうりょく)すればこそ成功(せいこう)できるのです。」

    Company president: 'Precisely because we work together as members of the team, we can succeed. '

  • 両親(りょうしん)が子(こ)どもを叱(しか)るのは子(こ)どもの幸福(こうふく)を考(かんが)えればこそだ。

    It is precisely because parents think of the well-being of their children that they scold them.

    From the perspective of a child or objective reader, B might be unexpected.

  • 悲(かな)しみがあればこそ、喜(よろこ)びもある。

    Precisely because there is sadness, there is also happiness.

  • 日本語(にほんご)の勉強(べんきょう)は難(むずか)しければこそ、却(かえ)ってやりがいを感(かん)じるのです。

    Precisely because studying Japanese is hard, it feels all the more rewarding.

  • 人間(にんげん)の寿命(じゅみょう)は限(かぎ)られている。であればこそ、人間(にんげん)はその命(いのち)をできるだけ楽(たの)しく快適(かいてき)で充実(じゅうじつ)して過(す)ごそうと思(おも)う。

    Human lifespan is limited. Precisely because of that, I plan to make life as enjoyable, comfortable, and fulfilling as possible.

    The sentence can be started with であればこそ, in that case, it refers to a previously mentioned reason.

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