JLPT N2 Grammar
· Upper Intermediate
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· Upper Intermediate
Only after; only by
Category: Condition & Hypothesis
The grammar pattern 'V-te + こそ' is used to emphasize that only through a certain action or only when a specific condition is met, can the following result or understanding be achieved. This pattern highlights the necessity or prerequisite of a particular action or condition in order to attain a certain outcome. It is often used in conditional or hypothetical situations to convey a sense of exclusivity or uniqueness. For example, '親になってこそ、親の苦労がわかるものだ' means 'Only by becoming a parent can one truly understand the hardships of parenthood.'
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| te form of the verb | V-te こそ | 歩いてこそ、その道の険しさがわかる |
| te form of the verb | V-te こそ | 親になってこそ、親の苦労がわかるものだ |
| te form of the verb | V-te こそ | お互いの信頼があってこそ、良いビジネスができる |
親になってこそ、親の苦労がわかるものだ
Oya ni natte koso, oya no kurō ga wakaru mono da
Only by becoming a parent can one truly understand the hardships of parenthood.
親になって (becoming a parent) こそ (only by) 親の苦労がわかるものだ (one can truly understand the hardships of parenthood)
自分の足で歩いてこそ、その道の険しさがわかる
Jibun no ashi de aruite koso, sono michi no kesshisa ga wakaru
Only by walking on one's own feet can one truly understand the difficulty of the road.
自分の足で歩いて (walking on one's own feet) こそ (only by) その道の険しさがわかる (one can truly understand the difficulty of the road)
お互いの信頼があってこそ、良いビジネスができる
Otagai no shinrai ga atte koso, ii bijinesu ga dekiru
Only with mutual trust can one do a good business.
お互いの信頼があって (with mutual trust) こそ (only by) 良いビジネスができる (one can do a good business)
This pattern is used in conditional or hypothetical situations to convey a sense of exclusivity or uniqueness. It is often used in formal writing or in situations where the speaker wants to emphasize the importance of a particular action or condition. It is not typically used in casual conversation.
The te form of the verb is necessary to convey the sense of 'only by' or 'only when'. Using the dictionary form of the verb would change the meaning of the sentence.
'Kara koso' is used to emphasize the reason or cause of something, whereas 'te koso' emphasizes the necessity or prerequisite of an action or condition.
'Te kara' is used to convey a simple sequence of events, whereas 'te koso' emphasizes the necessity or prerequisite of an action or condition.
When using this pattern in the JLPT exam, make sure to use the te form of the verb and to emphasize the necessity or prerequisite of an action or condition. Pay attention to the context and the meaning of the sentence to ensure that you are using the correct pattern.
親になって______、親の苦労がわかるものだ。
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