〜こそ〜が (~koso ~ga) — ~ may be (so), but
Admits one side — 'that's the only weak point' — and says the rest is good. Works in speech too.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- When a friend in Nepal asks about your new job, you say: 「給料こそ高くないけど、職場の人はみんな優しいよ」— 'the pay isn't high, but everyone at work is kind.'
- It sounds natural in everyday talk too.
Meaning
- 「こそ」singles out one side and admits it — 'this is the only weak point'.
- After 「が・けど」comes the more important, opposite judgement — 'only that much, the rest is fine'.
How to attach
- Noun + 「こそ」+ adjective/verb + 「が・けど」
- The part marked by 「こそ」is usually one small aspect (見た目・値段・量・給料).
Versus what you know
- N3In 「今度こそ」, 「こそ」also stressed 'this very one'; here it is still emphasis, but the aim is to say 'only that much — the rest is fine'.
- The feeling is close to the 「〜こそあれ」before, but that one is very stiff and limited to 「ある」; this one works with any adjective or verb.
Watch out
The two halves around 「が」must point opposite ways — something like 「味こそおいしいが、値段も安い」, where both point the same way, doesn't work.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
この店は建物こそ古いが、料理の味は一流だ。
このみせはたてものこそふるいが、りょうりのあじはいちりゅうだ。
This restaurant's building may be old, but the food is first-class.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 建物 = the building (one aspect) → 「こそ」 → 古い = old (a weak point) → 「が」 = but → 料理の味は一流だ = the food is first-class (the opposite, and the main point).
彼は口数こそ少ないが、仕事は誰よりも丁寧だ。
かれはくちかずこそすくないが、しごとはだれよりもていねいだ。
He may not say much, but his work is more careful than anyone's.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 口数 = how much one talks → 「こそ」 → 少ない = little (sounds like a weak point) → 「が」 = but → 仕事は誰よりも丁寧だ = his work is more careful than anyone's (the opposite, a good point).
この町は、交通こそ不便だが、自然が豊かで住みやすい。
このまちは、こうつうこそふべんだが、しぜんがゆたかですみやすい。
Transportation in this town may be inconvenient, but nature is rich and it's easy to live in.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 交通 = transportation → 「こそ」 → 不便だ = inconvenient (な-adj + だ) → 「が」 = but → 自然が豊かで住みやすい = rich in nature, easy to live in (the opposite, and the main point).
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「この部屋は、広さ＿＿十分だが、日当たりが悪い。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: 'One side is fine, but' — pairs with 〜が.
N + こそ + adjective + が = ~ may be so, but. すら means 'even', だに only goes with mental verbs, and たりとも only with negatives — none fit here.
Which sentence is unnatural?
💡 Hint: Do the two halves around 「が」point opposite ways?
In こそ〜が the two halves must point opposite ways. 'It's tasty, and cheap too' — both good, same direction; say 「味もおいしいし、値段も安い」.
(chatting with a friend) 「この靴、デザイン＿＿＿ちょっと地味だけど、すごく歩きやすいよ。」— which fits?
💡 Hint: An adjective (「地味だ」) follows, and this is casual talk.
N + こそ + adjective + けど — natural even in casual talk. こそあれ already means 'there is ~, but', so it can't take an adjective after it, and it is very stiff anyway; こそすれ follows a verb stem or する-noun; あっての needs a noun after it.
Your score: /3