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N1

~ばこそ

Precisely because, It is because … that, Only because

娘むすめの将来しょうらいを思おもえばこそ、塾じゅくに通かよわせます。

Precisely because I am thinking about my daughter's future, I will make her attend cram school.

Explanation

「〜ばこそ」 means 'precisely because ...'. It stresses the real reason, often to explain that a harsh-looking act actually comes from good intent: 「あなたの将来を思えばこそ、厳しく言うのだ」 (It's precisely because I think of your future that I speak so strictly). Forms: verb conditional (ば form)+こそ, い-adjective 「〜ければこそ」, noun and な-adjective 「〜であればこそ」. It is more literary and weighty than 「〜からこそ」.

Mixed up with

「〜ばこそ」: very formal; mostly explains good intent, hidden care or a life lesson.

「〜からこそ」: spoken or written, can stress any reason, e.g. 「安いからこそ買った」 (I bought it precisely because it was cheap).

Examples

  1. 忙いそがしければこそ時間じかんを効率的こうりつてきに使つかうことができるようになる。

    Precisely because you are busy, you will be able to use your time more efficiently.

  2. 失うしないたくないと思おもえばこそ心配しんぱいになるのであって、決けっしてあなたを束縛そくばくしようとはしていません。

    I only worry because I don't want to lose you; I'm not trying to tie you down at all.

  3. 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.

Tested 2 times in past papers

N1 · Jul 2022, Q38N1 · Dec 2012, Q38