Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 3: 2/22

こそ

For sure, For certain, Even more so, Underlined or bolded text

こそ replaces particles を and が.

Structure

Noun + こそ

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About こそ

こそ is an adverbial particle in Japanese that primarily replaces either を or が. Its main role is to highlight the preceding noun (or noun phrase) as being the the most important piece of information in relation to the rest of the sentence. In English, this is an effect that is primarily achieved through things like bold text, underlining, or emphasizing a particular word in speech. If we were to make a direct comparison to an English statement, then things like 'precisely because it's (A)', or 'rather it is due to (A)', are quite similar to こそ's function.
こそ can be used directly after any noun that would usually take the を, or が particles, so long as that particular piece of information needs to be emphasized.
  • この曲(きょく)こそ俺(おれ)がずーっと探(さが)していた曲(きょく)だ！やっとタイトルが分(わ)かった。
    This song is exactly the song I have been searching for! I finally figured out the title.
  • 今度(こんど)こそ勝(か)つぞ！
    I will win for sure next time!
Caution
The reason that こそ is able to replace が, but not は, is due to the fact that が primarily highlights specific pieces of information, while は nominates general topics. This means that they have completely opposite functions. To make things easier, the three particles can be thought of in the following way:
は- Weakly highlights specific information.
が- Strongly highlights specific information.
こそ- Very strongly highlights specific information.
Fun Fact
こそ is often used after names or pronouns, as a way to reply to thanks/apologies. In these situations, it expresses that the speaker feels equally (or more) obliged to say what was just said to them by someone else.
  • いえいえ、私(わたし)こそありがとうございます。
    No no no no, I am the one that should be thankful.

Examples

  • あなたこそできる。

    You can do it!

  • いえいえ、謝(あやま)らないでください！私(わたし)こそ悪(わる)いことをしてしまいました。

    No, no! Please do not apologize. It was (more) me (than you) that was in the wrong.

  • 一人(ひとり)でも手助(てだす)けをすることができたら、それこそ最高(さいこう)の気持(きも)ちになる。

    Even if we can only help one person, that (even more so) is the best feeling.

  • 今度(こんど)こそ達成(たっせい)してみせる！

    I will achieve (it) this time!

  • 辛(つら)い時(とき)こそ、大切(たいせつ)なことを学(まな)べるチャンスだ。

    Difficult times are chances to learn something important.

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こそ – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (8 in total)

  • dokidokiwakuwaku

    dokidokiwakuwaku

    About 5 months ago

    In the example sentence それでこそ僕の選んだ妻だ, why would それでさえ僕の選んだ妻だ not be correct?

  • nekoyama

    nekoyama

    About 5 months ago

    Isn’t the meaning a bit different?

    それでこそ - That’s exactly why she’s who I chose for my wife.
    それでさえ - But even so, she’s who I chose for my wife.

  • tamagotchild

    tamagotchild

    About 3 months ago

    I can understand kind of how this meaning comes about, but it doesn’t make sense to me with the rest of the grammar.

    困った時こそのは友達じゃないか。Would make a lot more sense but こその友達 is qualifying 友達 in this sentence.

    If that’s not the case, it would be helpful to have a more in depth explanation for this one.

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