Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 3: 2/22

こそFor sure, For certain, Even more so, Underlined or bolded text

こそ replaces particles を and が.

Structure

Noun + こそ

Details

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About こそ

こそ is an adverbial particle in Japanese that primarily replaces either を or が. Its main role is to highlight the preceding noun (or noun phrase) as being the the most important piece of information in relation to the rest of the sentence. In English, this is an effect that is primarily achieved through things like bold text, underlining, or emphasizing a particular word in speech. If we were to make a direct comparison to an English statement, then things like 'precisely because it's (A)', or 'rather it is due to (A)', are quite similar to こそ's function.

こそ can be used directly after any noun that would usually take the を, or が particles, so long as that particular piece of information needs to be emphasized.

Caution

The reason that こそ is able to replace が, but not は, is due to the fact that が primarily highlights specific pieces of information, while は nominates general topics. This means that they have completely opposite functions. To make things easier, the three particles can be thought of in the following way:

は- Weakly highlights specific information.

が- Strongly highlights specific information.

こそ- Very strongly highlights specific information.

Fun Fact

こそ is often used after names or pronouns, as a way to reply to thanks/apologies. In these situations, it expresses that the speaker feels equally (or more) obliged to say what was just said to them by someone else.

  • いえいえ、私(わたし)こそありがとうございます。
    No no no no, I am the one that should be thankful.

Examples

--:--

    あなたこそリーダーにふさわしい！

    You are fitting to be the leader!

    今度(こんど)こそ達成(たっせい)してみせる！

    I will achieve (it) this time!

    誰(だれ)かが「愛(あい)こそすべてだ」って言(い)っていました。

    Someone once said that 'love is everything'.

    困(こま)った時(とき)こその友達(ともだち)じゃないか。

    Without a doubt, friends help when you are in trouble, don't they?

    そんな時(とき)こそ僕(ぼく)の出番(でばん)だ！

    That is the time I will make my debut!

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      こそ – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (12 in total)

      • nekoyama

        nekoyama

        I’m not sure where you got the idea that particles can’t be used before の. There’s even a grammar point for particles + の on bunpro. Although I think こそ isn’t listed.

        I don’t think the の is for emphasis as such. It describes the kind of friends that they are.

      • casual

        casual

        I didn’t say “particles cannot be used before の”, clearly a particle is used before の right here.

        So what you are suggesting is that the sentence is about a specific friend (or group) qualified as “that friend that is for troubled times”, not an observation about friends in general? Like what Seanblue above said.

      • homa

        homa

        Maybe then それこそ、この使命は僕に与えられたと思っています or something like that but grammarly correct

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