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

  • 使用域

    一般

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)'.
  • 海外(かいがい)に留学(りゅうがく)してこそ、日本食(にほんしょく)の美味(おい)しさが分(わ)かる。
    Only by studying abroad can one appreciate the deliciousness of Japanese food.
  • 親(おや)になってこそ、子育(こそだ)ての大変(たいへん)さがわかる。
    It's only when you become a parent that you understand how hard it is to raise a child.
  • チーム全員(ぜんいん)の責任(せきにん)を背負(せお)ってこそ、キャプテンになれる。
    You become a captain only if you take on the responsibility of the whole team.
  • 他(ほか)のチームに勝(か)ってこそ、世界一(せかい)になれる。
    Only by beating other teams can we become the best in the world.
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

  • 日本(にほん)へ行(い)ってこそ、京都(きょうと)の魅力(みりょく)が分(わ)かる。

    Only by going to Japan, one can understand the charm of Kyoto.

  • 親(おや)になってこそ、子供(こども)は奇跡(きせき)だという考(かんが)え方(かた)が分(わ)かる。

    Only by becoming a parent, you can understand the mindset that children are miracles.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

    It isn't an outing until everyone participates.

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～てこそ – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

  • ljoekelsoey

    ljoekelsoey

    About 2 years ago

    Is this interchangeable with Verb + ことだけで ?

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    About 1 year ago

    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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