JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N3 grammar · Chapter 9

～からこそ

Precisely because this reason matters

You’ll be able to strongly emphasize the particular reason that makes a result possible or meaningful.

Illustration of the scene described by Precisely because the climb was tough, the view from the mountaintop is special.
Read it first

登のぼるのが大変たいへんだったからこそ、山頂さんちょうからの眺ながめは特別とくべつです。

noboru no ga taihen datta kara koso, sanchou kara no nagame wa tokubetsu desu.

What do you think this sentence means?

Precisely because the climb was tough, the view from the mountaintop is special.

Why it means that

Emphasize the essential reason

～からこそ attaches to a reason to emphasize that it is the very reason why something is true, worthwhile, or possible, ruling out other interpretations.

Examples

好すきな仕事しごとだからこそ、がんばれます。

suki na shigoto da kara koso, ganbaremasu.

It is precisely because I love this job that I can keep working hard.

家族かぞくがいるからこそ、毎日まいにちが楽たのしいです。

kazoku ga iru kara koso, mainichi ga tanoshii desu.

It is precisely because I have my family that every day is fun.

How it is built

Emphasize a reason with からこそ

Attach こそ to the reason particle から after a plain form verb, adjective, or だ with nouns and na-adjectives.

plain clause+からこそ+result／noun / na-adj+ だからこそ+result
Example

あなたのことを心配しんぱいしているからこそ、注意ちゅういしたんだ。

anata no koto o shinpai shite iru kara koso, chuui shita n da.

Precisely because I am worried about you, I warned you.

Compare

～から vs ～からこそ

～から simply gives a reason. ～からこそ stresses that this reason, and no other, is what made the result possible or meaningful.

  • ～から, because

    毎日まいにち練習れんしゅうしたから、勝かてました。

    mainichi renshuu shita kara, katemashita.

    I won because I practiced every day.

    A plain reason.

  • ～からこそ, precisely because

    毎日まいにち練習れんしゅうしたからこそ、勝かてました。

    mainichi renshuu shita kara koso, katemashita.

    It is precisely because I practiced every day that I won.

    Singles out the practice as the real reason for the win.

Examples

自分じぶんも失敗しっぱいした経験けいけんがあるからこそ、後輩こうはいの気持きもちがよく分わかる。

jibun mo shippai shita keiken ga aru kara koso, kouhai no kimochi ga yoku wakaru.

It’s precisely because I’ve failed myself that I understand how my juniors feel.

忙いそがしい時ときだからこそ、しっかり寝ねることが大切たいせつだ。

isogashii toki da kara koso, shikkari neru koto ga taisetsu da.

It’s precisely when you’re busy that getting enough sleep matters.

町まちの明あかりが少すくない田舎いなかだからこそ、星ほしがこんなにきれいに見みえる。

machi no akari ga sukunai inaka da kara koso, hoshi ga konna ni kirei ni mieru.

It’s precisely because this is the countryside, with few town lights, that the stars look so beautiful.

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