～てこそ

Only if, Because, By, Unless, Until

海外かいがいに留学りゅうがくしてこそ、日本食にほんしょくの美味おいしさが分わかる。

Only by studying abroad can one appreciate the deliciousness of Japanese food.

Explanation

「〜てこそ」 means 'only by doing..., only then...' and follows the て form. Only if you actually do the first thing and put in the effort do the good result or the real value come about: 「苦労してこそ、成功の喜びが味わえる」 (Only through hardship can you taste the joy of success), 「自分でやってこそ意味がある」 (It only has meaning if you do it yourself). The second part is usually positive, often with 「〜と言える」「〜がわかる」「〜意味がある」.

Mixed up with

「〜てはじめて」: about order in time; only after doing it, you realize for the first time: 「親になってはじめて親のありがたみがわかった」 (Only after I became a parent did I understand my parents' kindness).

「〜てこそ」: carries a value judgement; without A there is no real B.

Examples

親おやになってこそ、子育こそだての大変たいへんさがわかる。
It's only when you become a parent that you understand how hard it is to raise a child.
他ほかのチームに勝かってこそ、世界一せかいいちになれる。
Only by beating other teams can we become the best in the world.
助たすけ合あってこその親友しんゆうじゃないか。
Isn't helping each other what makes us best friends?
チーム全員ぜんいんの責任せきにんを背負せおってこそ、キャプテンになれる。
You become a captain only if you take on the responsibility of the whole team.
全部ぜんぶ揃そろえてこそのコレクションだ。
A collection is a collection only when everything is complete.
優勝ゆうしょうしてこそ、自信じしんに繋つながる。
It is only by winning that one becomes confident.
くだらないプライドを捨すててこそ、男おとこらしくなれる。
Only if you throw aside your worthless pride will you be able to become more manly.
全員ぜんいん参加さんかしてこその遠足えんそくだ。
It is only because everyone is participating that it is an outing.
責任せきにんを取とってこそ、真しんのリーダーだ。
Only by taking responsibility do you become a true leader.
日本にほんへ行いってこそ、京都きょうとの魅力みりょくが分わかる。
Only by going to Japan, one can understand the charm of Kyoto.
失敗しっぱいしてこそ、本当ほんとうの成功せいこうに辿たどり着つける。
Only by failing, one can truly walk the path to success.
自分じぶんでやってみてこそ、撮影さつえいの難むずかしさが分わかるはずです。
You are expected to understand the difficulties of photography only by trying it yourself.
体験たいけんしてこそ、作者さくしゃが苦悩くのうした理由りゆうが分わかる。
Only by personally experiencing it, you will understand the reason the author was distressed.
手紙てがみは手書てがきで書かいてこそ、気持きもちが伝つたわるものだ。
Only if you write the letter by hand will your feelings will be conveyed.
親おやになってこそ、子供こどもは奇跡きせきだという考かんがえ方かたが分わかる。
Only by becoming a parent, you can understand the mindset that children are miracles.

Explanation

Mixed up with

「〜てこそ」: carries a value judgement; without A there is no real B.

Examples

親おやになってこそ、子育こそだての大変たいへんさがわかる。
It's only when you become a parent that you understand how hard it is to raise a child.
他ほかのチームに勝かってこそ、世界一せかいいちになれる。
Only by beating other teams can we become the best in the world.
助たすけ合あってこその親友しんゆうじゃないか。
Isn't helping each other what makes us best friends?
チーム全員ぜんいんの責任せきにんを背負せおってこそ、キャプテンになれる。
You become a captain only if you take on the responsibility of the whole team.
全部ぜんぶ揃そろえてこそのコレクションだ。
A collection is a collection only when everything is complete.
優勝ゆうしょうしてこそ、自信じしんに繋つながる。
It is only by winning that one becomes confident.
くだらないプライドを捨すててこそ、男おとこらしくなれる。
Only if you throw aside your worthless pride will you be able to become more manly.
全員ぜんいん参加さんかしてこその遠足えんそくだ。
It is only because everyone is participating that it is an outing.
責任せきにんを取とってこそ、真しんのリーダーだ。
Only by taking responsibility do you become a true leader.
日本にほんへ行いってこそ、京都きょうとの魅力みりょくが分わかる。
Only by going to Japan, one can understand the charm of Kyoto.
失敗しっぱいしてこそ、本当ほんとうの成功せいこうに辿たどり着つける。
Only by failing, one can truly walk the path to success.
自分じぶんでやってみてこそ、撮影さつえいの難むずかしさが分わかるはずです。
You are expected to understand the difficulties of photography only by trying it yourself.
体験たいけんしてこそ、作者さくしゃが苦悩くのうした理由りゆうが分わかる。
Only by personally experiencing it, you will understand the reason the author was distressed.
手紙てがみは手書てがきで書かいてこそ、気持きもちが伝つたわるものだ。
Only if you write the letter by hand will your feelings will be conveyed.
親おやになってこそ、子供こどもは奇跡きせきだという考かんがえ方かたが分わかる。
Only by becoming a parent, you can understand the mindset that children are miracles.

～てこそ

Explanation

Mixed up with

Examples

～てこそ

Explanation

Mixed up with

Examples

Tested once in past papers