Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 8: 12/19

ばこそPrecisely because, Only because, Because, Due to, Only if

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

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.

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

--:--

    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.

    失敗(しっぱい)すればこそ、成長(せいちょう)できるのだと思(おも)う。

    I think that it is precisely because of failures that you are able to succeed.

      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.

      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.

      「私(わたし)たちは友達(ともだち)であればこそ、Xさんの計画(けいかく)に反対(はんたい)なんです。」

      'Precisely because we are friends, I am against your plan.'

    • Get more example sentences!

      Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

    Self-Study Sentences

    Study your own way!

    Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

    • Online

      • Offline

          • Try N2

            Page 92

          • Shin Kanzen Master N1 Bunpou

            Page 52

          • Sou Matome Bunpou N2

            Page 36

          • A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar

            Page 27

        • Track Resources!

          Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.

        ～ばこそ – Grammar Discussion

          There's currently no discussion for ～ばこそ
          Ask questions and learn together with other Bunpro users!

        Join the Discussion