N1 Comparison and Contrast

~こそすれ: meaning, usage and examples

~こそすれ means: if anything X, but never Y / only... (never the opposite).

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

Examples

1. 彼かれの助言じょげんには感謝かんしゃこそすれ、迷惑めいわくだと思おもったことは一度いちどもない。

   I have only ever been grateful for his advice; I have never once found it a bother.

2. 白髪しらがは増ふえこそすれ、減へることはない。

   Gray hair only ever increases; it never decreases.

3. このままでは、問題もんだいは悪化あっかこそすれ、解決かいけつはしないだろう。

   At this rate, the problem will only get worse; it will not get solved.

4. 木村きむらさんの決断けつだんを尊敬そんけいこそすれ、非難ひなんするつもりは全まったくない。

   If anything, I respect Mr. Kimura's decision; I have no intention of criticizing it.

When to use it

Says that one thing does happen (or could happen), but the opposite certainly does not. It works like "if anything X, but never Y." Example: 問題もんだいは悪化あっかこそすれ、解決かいけつはしない (the problem will only get worse, never better). Typical pairs are 増ふえこそすれ減へらない and 感謝かんしゃこそすれ恨うらまない.

Nuance

Formal and mostly written. The second clause is almost always negative, and the two verbs are opposites or near opposites. It expresses a firm judgment, often a prediction or a statement of feelings toward someone.

Compare

こそあれ attaches to a noun: 感謝かんしゃこそあれ、恨うらみはない. こそすれ attaches to a verb stem: 増ふえこそすれ、減へりはしない. In everyday speech people say ことはあっても: 増ふえることはあっても、減へることはない, which carries the same meaning.

Tip: Check for a pair of opposites: 増ふえる/減へる, 感謝かんしゃ/非難ひなん, 悪化あっか/解決かいけつ. If the second verb is not negative, こそすれ is the wrong choice.