こそ (koso)
こそ — precisely ～, ～ for sure
Pattern
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N／副詞／Vて＋こそNoun / adverb + こそ
Meaning
今年こそ means 'this year for sure' after failing before. こちらこそ replies to thanks or greetings with 'no, it is I who should thank you.' ～ときこそ says that very moment is the important one.
When to use
For resolve, greetings and emphasis. The word before こそ becomes the focus. In ～からこそ and ～てこそ it emphasizes a reason or condition.
Examples
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今年（ことし）こそ試験（しけん）に合格（ごうかく）したい。
Kotoshi koso shiken ni gōkaku shitai.
This year for sure, I want to pass the exam.
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「ありがとう。」「いいえ、こちらこそ。」
"Arigatō." "Iie, kochira koso."
"Thank you." "No, thank YOU."
-
苦（くる）しいときこそ、笑顔（えがお）が大切（たいせつ）だ。
Kurushii toki koso, egao ga taisetsu da.
It is precisely in hard times that a smile is important.
Common mistakes
- こそ usually replaces は or が and is not stacked: 今年こそ, not 今年はこそ.
- こちらこそ is a reply. You cannot use it for the first thanks.
More grammar points
- 上（あ）げる ～上げる — to finish ～ completely
- あまり あまりの～に — so ～ that ～
- あまりにも あまりにも — far too ～, excessively
- 合（あ）う ～合う — do ～ to each other; to fit, to suit
- ばいい ～ばいい — you just have to ～, it is fine to just ～
- ばよかった ～ばよかった — I should have ～, if only I had ～
- ば～ほど ～ば～ほど — the more ～, the more ～
- ば～のに ～ば～のに — if only ～, then ～ (regret)
- ばかりで ～ばかりで — only ～ (and nothing else, with a negative feeling)
- ばかりでなく ～ばかりでなく — not only ～ but also ～
- べきだ ～べきだ — should ～, ought to ～
- べきではない ～べきではない — should not ～
- 別（べつ）に～ない 別に～ない — not particularly ～
- ぶりに ～ぶりに — for the first time in ～ (a period)
- 中（ちゅう） ～中 (ちゅう／じゅう) — during ～, within ～
- だけ だけ — only, just; as much as ～
- だけでなく ～だけでなく — not only ～ but also ～
- だけど だけど — but, however (casual)
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