N1 Cause, Reason, and Basis

~ばこそ: meaning, usage and examples

~ばこそ means: precisely because... (emphasizes reason).

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 部下ぶかの将来しょうらいを思おもえばこそ、厳きびしく注意ちゅういするのです。

   It is precisely because I care about my staff's future that I am strict with them.

2. 健康けんこうであればこそ、仕事しごとも趣味しゅみも楽たのしめる。

   You can enjoy work and hobbies precisely because you are healthy.

3. 上司じょうしは田中たなかさんを信頼しんらいしていればこそ、この仕事しごとを任まかせたのだ。

   It was precisely because the manager trusted Mr. Tanaka that this job went to him.

4. 苦労くろうがあればこそ、成功せいこうの喜よろこびも大おおきいのだ。

   It is precisely because of the hardships that the joy of success is so great.

When to use it

Emphasizes that a particular reason, and only that reason, explains something, "precisely because." The speaker often corrects a possible misunderstanding: "I am strict precisely because I care." Example: 健康けんこうであればこそ、好すきな仕事しごとが続つづけられる (precisely because I am healthy, I can keep doing the work I love). The sentence often ends with のだ.

Nuance

Formal and somewhat literary, used in speeches and written explanations. It usually explains a positive motive behind an action that might look negative. The reason is stated as a real fact, not a hypothetical condition, even though the ば form is used.

Compare

からこそ means the same thing and is the everyday form: 心配しんぱいだからこそ言いうんだ. ばこそ is more formal and literary. Plain ば is conditional (もし): 健康けんこうであれば続つづけられる (if I am healthy, I can continue). ばこそ is not "if"; the condition is already true.

Tip: Read ばこそ as からこそ in formal clothing. Ending the sentence with のだ or のです makes it sound natural.