〜こそ koso

〜こそ（koso）means “precisely ~; it is exactly ~ that ~; ~ above all”. An emphatic particle that singles out and stresses the preceding element: 'this, and nothing else'. Formation: N＋こそ ／ V（辞書形）＋ことこそ ／ 普通形＋からこそ

precisely ~; it is exactly ~ that ~; ~ above all

N3

Formation

N＋こそ ／ V（辞書形）＋ことこそ ／ 普通形＋からこそ

Explanation

An emphatic particle that singles out and stresses the preceding element: 'this, and nothing else'. N+こそ highlights a noun ('it is exactly N'). 普通形+からこそ stresses the very reason ('precisely because ~'). It often carries the speaker's strong feeling, conviction, or a sense of contrast with a previous situation.

Examples

今年こそ、日本語能力試験に合格したい。
ことしこそ、にほんごのうりょくしけんにごうかくしたい。
This year for sure, I want to pass the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
あなたが応援してくれたからこそ、私はがんばれた。
あなたがおうえんしてくれたからこそ、わたしはがんばれた。
It is precisely because you cheered me on that I was able to try my best.

Note

からこそ emphasizes the reason ('precisely because'); ことこそ nominalizes a verb to emphasize the action itself. こそ often replaces the particle が/を on the highlighted word.

FAQ

〜こそ — what does it mean and how is it used?

precisely ~; it is exactly ~ that ~; ~ above all. An emphatic particle that singles out and stresses the preceding element: 'this, and nothing else'. N+こそ highlights a noun ('it is exactly N'). 普通形+からこそ stresses the very reason ('precisely because ~'). It often carries the speaker's strong feeling, conviction, or a sense of contrast with a previous situation.

〜こそ — how do you form it?

N＋こそ ／ V（辞書形）＋ことこそ ／ 普通形＋からこそ

〜こそ — any usage notes?

からこそ emphasizes the reason ('precisely because'); ことこそ nominalizes a verb to emphasize the action itself. こそ often replaces the particle が/を on the highlighted word.

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