Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 8: 12/19

ばこそPrecisely because, Only because, Because, Due to, Only if

Structure

Verb［ば］+ こそ + Phrase
［い］Adjective［ば］+ こそ + Phrase
［な］Adjective + であれば + こそ + Phrase
Noun + であれば + こそ + Phrase
Phrase (A)。であればこそ + Phrase(B)

Details

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    Formal

About ～ばこそ

ばこそ will be used in a similar way to からこそ, indicating that (A) is the the precise reason for (B). It will be translated as 'precisely because of (A)', or 'it is only due to (A) that (B)'. This pattern is a combination of the conjunction particle ば, and the adverbial particle こそ, which is being used in a similar way to a sentence ending particle in this case.

ばこそ may follow almost any word type that has been adjusted into its hypothetical form. However, it will appear as であればこそ when used after nouns or な-Adjectives.

In many cases, (A) will be a reason that is difficult to conceive of as what would lead to (B) under normal circumstances, and therefore requires the speaker to emphasize it with こそ.

Caution

ばこそ is very formal, and a bit old-fashioned, so からこそ will almost always be the preferred choice in modern day Japanese.

Examples

--:--

    社長(しゃちょう)「皆(みな)さんがチームの一員(いちいん)として協力(きょうりょく)すればこそ成功(せいこう)できるのです。」

    Company president: 'Precisely because we work together as members of the team, we can succeed. '

    両親(りょうしん)が子(こ)どもを叱(しか)るのは子(こ)どもの幸福(こうふく)を考(かんが)えればこそだ。

    It is precisely because parents think of the well-being of their children that they scold them.

    悲(かな)しみがあればこそ、喜(よろこ)びもある。

    Precisely because there is sadness, there is also happiness.

    日本語(にほんご)の勉強(べんきょう)は難(むずか)しければこそ、却(かえ)ってやりがいを感(かん)じるのです。

    Precisely because studying Japanese is hard, it feels all the more rewarding.

    人間(にんげん)の寿命(じゅみょう)は限(かぎ)られている。であればこそ、人間(にんげん)はその命(いのち)をできるだけ楽(たの)しく快適(かいてき)で充実(じゅうじつ)して過(す)ごそうと思(おも)う。

    Human lifespan is limited. Precisely because of that, I plan to make life as enjoyable, comfortable, and fulfilling as possible.

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