only by, only when, only through

Advanced

25-30 min

common

Expert Reviewed

Explanation

Emphasizes that something is possible or meaningful only through a certain action.

[Verb て form] + こそ

努力してこそ、成功できる。

Doryoku shite koso, seikou dekiru.

Only by making effort can you succeed.

経験してこそ、本当の価値が分かる。

Keiken shite koso, hontou no kachi ga wakaru.

Only through experience can you understand true value.

Strong emphasis on necessity of the action.

～ばこそ

precisely because, for that very reason

～ならいざ知らず

~ might be one thing, but; leaving ~ aside

～てやまない

earnestly wish/hope, never stop ~ing

～をものともせずに

not being daunted by ~, in spite of ~

～んがため(に)

in order to ~, for the purpose of ~ (formal/literary)

Use for emphasizing necessary conditions.

JLPTBooks Editorial Team

Japanese Language Education Specialists

Last updated: Jan 2

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