Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 3: 13/23

～てこそOnly if, Because, By, Unless, Until

Structure

Verb［て］+ こそ

Details

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    Standard

About ～てこそ

In a similar way to how the particle こそ highlights a particular word as being the 'precise' or 'exact' reason for something, its combination with the て-form of a verb will indicate that (B) is absolutely reliant on (A). This reliance can be translated in several different ways, and will usually become clear in the (B) part of sentences. Standard interpretations include 'only if (A), (B)', 'unless (A), (B)', or 'until (A), (B)'.

The reliance that (B) has on (A) can be translated in several different ways, but the most common interpretations are that (A) will determine either the outcome, assessment, or evaluation of (B), based on the speaker's opinion, values, or understanding of the situation.

Examples

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    助(たす)け合(あ)ってこその親友(しんゆう)じゃないか。

    One is being a friend only by helping one another, isn't that right? (only because)

    全部(ぜんぶ)揃(そろ)えてこそのコレクションだ。

    It is a collection only by being complete. (because・until/unless)

    優勝(ゆうしょう)してこそ、自信(じしん)に繋(つな)がる。

    It is only by winning that one becomes confident. (unless/until)

    くだらないプライドを捨(す)ててこそ、男(おとこ)らしくなれる。

    Only if you throw aside your worthless pride will you be able to become more manly. (until/unless)

    全員(ぜんいん)参加(さんか)してこその遠足(えんそく)だ。

    It is only because everyone is participating that it is an outing. (until/unless)

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～てこそ – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

  • ljoekelsoey

    ljoekelsoey

    Is this interchangeable with Verb + ことだけで ?

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    Hey @ljoekelsoey !

    This grammar point is not interchangeable with だけで. The ‘just by’ translation of てこそ has the nuance of ‘until…/unless…’, which だけで does not have.

    Let’s look at this sentence for example:

    親（）になってこそ、子供（）は奇跡（）だという考（）え方（）が分（）かる。The translation on the site is ’ Only by becoming a parent, you can understand the mindset that children are miracles.’, but the nuance this sentence carries is ’ Unless you become a parent first, you wont understand the mindset that children are miracles.’

    When that てこそ is replaced with だけで, it will change the nuance to ‘Becoming a parent is the only thing necessary to understand that childre...

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