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N2 — outside your level filter

こそ

こそkosoN2neutral

こそ

N and no other — picks its noun out above everything else

努力どりょくこそが人ひとを変かえるのだと思おもいます。

doryoku koso ga hito o kaeru no da to omoimasu.

It's effort, more than anything, that changes a person. neutral

今度こんどこそ絶対ぜったいに合格ごうかくしてみせる。

kondo koso zettai ni goukaku shite miseru.

This time for sure, I'm going to pass. casual

All examples6

N and no other — the one noun the claim is staked on

  1. 努力どりょくこそが人ひとを変かえるのだと思おもいます。

    doryoku koso ga hito o kaeru no da to omoimasu.

    It's effort, more than anything, that changes a person. neutral

  2. 困こまっているときこそ、周まわりに声こえをかけたほうがいいよ。

    komatte iru toki koso, mawari ni koe o kaketa hou ga ii yo.

    It's exactly when you're stuck that you should say something to the people around you. casual

  3. こちらこそ、今後こんごともよろしくお願ねがい申もうし上あげます。

    kochira koso, kongo tomo yoroshiku onegai moushiagemasu.

    The pleasure is mine — I look forward to working with you. formal

  4. 今いまこそ、みんなで力ちからを合あわせるときです。

    ima koso, minna de chikara o awaseru toki desu.

    Now, if ever, is the time for us all to pull together. neutral

this time for sure — after failed tries, resolve put on 今度こんど or 次つぎ

  1. 今度こんどこそ絶対ぜったいに合格ごうかくしてみせる。

    kondo koso zettai ni goukaku shite miseru.

    This time for sure, I'm going to pass. casual

  2. 次つぎこそは負まけません。

    tsugi koso wa makemasen.

    Next time I won't lose. neutral

How it's formed2

All forms1

  • こそがkosogaalternant

    が comes back after こそ when the noun is the subject (努力どりょくこそが人ひとを変かえる), and は can too (次つぎこそは). Bare こそ says the same and is commoner in speech.

Notes

が and は drop before こそ (×健康けんこうがこそ), and を usually drops too, but stays in formal writing. に and で stay, with こそ after them (君きみにこそ, never ×君きみこそに).