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JLPT N3Emphasis

～こそ— This Is The One

An emphasis particle that singles out the preceding word as 'precisely / exactly this one and no other'. It highlights the noun or clause it follows, often signaling determination ('this time for sure') or a corrective focus ('it's YOU who should apologize'). Adds emotional weight and conviction.

Grammar path · 練習

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A short lesson: the pattern, its sentence anatomy, a quick quiz and a sentence to build.

Pro lessonUNIT 22 · EMPHASIS

Structure · 形

[Noun] + こそ / [Verb て-form] + こそ (only through ~)

Examples · 例文

  • 今年こそ日本語能力試験に合格する。

    Kotoshi koso Nihongo nouryoku shiken ni goukaku suru.

    This year for sure I'll pass the JLPT.

    今年 + こそ = 'this year, unlike before, definitely'

  • こちらこそよろしくお願いします。

    Kochira koso yoroshiku onegai shimasu.

    The pleasure is all mine.

    こちら + こそ = 'it is I, precisely, who should say that'

  • 努力してこそ成功できる。

    Doryoku shite koso seikou dekiru.

    Only by making an effort can you succeed.

    努力して (て-form) + こそ = success comes precisely through effort

Usage notes · 注意

  • After a て-form, ～てこそ means 'only by/through doing ~ (can something be achieved)'.
  • Often responds to a previous statement to bounce the emphasis back (こちらこそ).
  • Register: neutral to slightly emphatic/emotional; fine in speech and writing.

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ～こそ is tested against.

vsは

は marks a neutral topic; こそ actively spotlights and stresses that item as THE one, adding conviction that は does not.

vsだけ

だけ limits to 'only ~' quantitatively; こそ emphasizes 'this very one' without excluding others by count.

More emphasis

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