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

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    Formal

About ～ばこそ

ばこそ is used in a similar way to からこそ, indicating that (A) is 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.

Synonyms

Related

Examples

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    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(エックス)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.'

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