Structure
Noun + こそ
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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.
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、私こそありがとうございます。No no no no, I am the one that should be thankful.
Synonyms
Examples
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あなたこそリーダーにふさわしい！
You are fitting to be the leader!
今度こそ達成してみせる！
I will achieve (it) this time!
誰かが「愛こそすべてだ」って言っていました。
Someone once said that 'love is everything'.
困った時こその友達じゃないか。
Without a doubt, friends help when you are in trouble, don't they?
そんな時こそ僕の出番だ！
That is the time I will make my debut!
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Detailed explanation and multiple examples
Maggie Sensei
こそ explained in detail
Self-taught Japanese
Offline
Tobira
Page 284
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 171
Quartet II
Page 11, Point 1
A Handbook of Japanese Grammar Patterns
Page 118
A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar
Page 132
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こそ – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (11 in total)
casual
Please don’t quote me on this, but it seems that の in こその友達 is more for emphasis, and makes it sound more dramatic. There are 2 similar examples in the linked Maggie sensei post, also without a specific explanation for の.
Since こそ is a particle, not a noun, I don’t think it can modify the following noun using の the same way as a noun would.
nekoyama
I’m not sure where you got the idea that particles can’t be used before の. There’s even a grammar point for particles + の on bunpro. Although I think こそ isn’t listed.
I don’t think the の is for emphasis as such. It describes the kind of friends that they are.
casual
I didn’t say “particles cannot be used before の”, clearly a particle is used before の right here.
So what you are suggesting is that the sentence is about a specific friend (or group) qualified as “that friend that is for troubled times”, not an observation about friends in general? Like what Seanblue above said.
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