N1 Comparison and Contrast

~こそあれ: meaning, usage and examples

~こそあれ means: although... / though there is...

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

Examples

1. 多少たしょうの不満ふまんこそあれ、今いまの仕事しごとには満足まんぞくしている。

   Although I have some minor complaints, I'm satisfied with my current job.

2. 苦労くろうこそあれ、子育こそだては大おおきな喜よろこびを与あたえてくれる。

   Though there are hardships, raising children brings great joy.

3. 程度ていどの差さこそあれ、誰だれにでも苦手にがてなことはある。

   Everyone has things they are bad at, though to varying degrees.

4. 前まえの上司じょうしには感謝かんしゃこそあれ、恨うらむ気持きもちは少すこしもない。

   I feel nothing but gratitude toward my former boss, and no resentment at all.

When to use it

A literary way to say "there is X, but..." It admits that something exists and then states the contrasting main point. Common set phrases are 程度ていどの差さこそあれ (to varying degrees) and 多少たしょうの〜こそあれ. Example: 不満ふまんこそあれ、仕事しごとには満足まんぞくしている (I have complaints, but I am satisfied with my job). With a negative second clause it can mean "if anything X, never Y."

Nuance

Written and formal; in speech it appears mainly in set phrases. It is close in meaning to はあるが but sounds more literary. Typical nouns are 差さ, 違ちがい, 不満ふまん, 苦労くろう, 感謝かんしゃ. The second clause often generalizes, for example 誰だれにでも or どの〜も.

Compare

こそすれ attaches to a verb stem or する noun: 感謝かんしゃこそすれ、恨うらみはしない. こそあれ attaches directly to a noun with ある built in: 感謝かんしゃこそあれ、恨うらみはない. In plain style both become 〜はあるが or 〜はするが.

Tip: Learn 程度ていどの差さこそあれ as a block. It is the form most likely to appear in reading passages and on the test.