Grammar Info
N1 Lesson 10: 19/22

こそすれ〜ない こそすれ〜ない and certainly not, but certainly not, but, although, even though

Structure
［する］Verb + こそすれ + Phrase[ない]
Verb［ます］+ こそすれ + Phrase[ない]
Structure Legend  
Details
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使用域 硬い
Information
  • (A) こそすれ (B), when followed by the clause ending with a negative form is used in written language to strongly emphasize that (A) is the case, certainly not (B). This grammar construction has roots in Classical Japanese where こそ forces the predicate into the realis form (已然形). Normally こそ would emphasize (A), but when the realis form is in the middle of the sentence it expresses concession. This pattern can be seen in other combinations like こそなれ and こそあれ.
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セキュリティ事故（じこ）は増（ふ）えこそすれ、減（へ）りはしないだろう。
The security incidents will only increase, certainly not decrease.
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    • 小説（しょうせつ）：だが実際（じっさい）は、剣士（けんし）の復讐（ふくしゅう）心（しん）は火（ひ）の手（て）をつよめこそすれ、決（けっ）して冷（さ）めるどころではなかったのである。
    Novel : ‘In reality, however, the swordsman's blazing desire for vengeance was intensifying, and certainly not cooling down at all.’
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    • 多（おお）くの人（ひと）にとって、その奇妙（きみょう）な現象（げんしょう）は驚（おどろ）きこそすれ、恐怖（きょうふ）を感（かん）じるほどではなかった。
    The strange phenomenon was surprising for many, and certainly not terrifying.
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