N3 Emphasis, Limitation, and Addition

~こそ: meaning, usage and examples

~こそ means: the very... (for emphasis).

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

Examples

1. 今年ことしこそ、日本にほんに行いきたいです。

   I want to finally go to Japan this year.

2. あなたこそ、私わたしが探さがしていた人ひとです。

   You are the very person I have been looking for.

3. 「ありがとうございました。」「こちらこそ。」

   "Thank you very much." "No, thank you."

4. 健康けんこうこそ一番いちばん大切たいせつなものです。

   Health is the most important thing of all.

When to use it

Adds strong emphasis: 'this is the one' or 'precisely this'. Use it to pick out one thing as the true or most important one: 今年ことしこそ合格ごうかくしたい 'this year, for sure, I want to pass'. It is also the set reply こちらこそ 'no, thank you' or 'the pleasure is mine'.

Nuance

Usually positive or determined, but it can also single out something negative: これこそ問題もんだいだ. Formal and casual both work. こそ replaces は and が; other particles like に and で come before it.

Compare

Compare は / が: 今年ことしは行いきたい is a plain statement. 今年ことしこそ行いきたい adds 'this time for sure', often after failing before. Compare さえ (even): さえ points to an extreme example, often negative. こそ picks out the most important item, usually positive.

Tip: Learn こちらこそ first: when someone thanks you or says よろしく, reply こちらこそ. It works with friends, teachers, and at work.