〜こそすれ (~koso sure) — ~ if anything, but never the opposite
'If anything, it's this — never the opposite': firmly shuts out the opposite possibility. A stiff form.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- Talking to your landlord about a rent increase, he says: 「この辺りの家賃は上がりこそすれ、下がることはないですよ」— 'rents around here go up if anything — they never go down.'
- It is stiff, written language; in speech, 「上がることはあっても、下がることはない」is enough.
Meaning
Only one direction is possible, the opposite is completely ruled out — accepting just one of two opposites and firmly denying the other is what 「〜こそすれ」does.
How to attach
- 「すれ」is an old form of 「する」, so it goes with verbs: drop 「ます」from the ます-form (上がりこそすれ)
- Straight after a noun that takes 「する」: 感謝こそすれ
- A strong denial of the opposite always follows: 「〜ことはない」「〜などいない」「〜はしない」
Versus what you know
Don't confuse it with the 「〜こそあれ」before: that one admits both sides ('there is a weak point, but it's good'); this one says 'only this, never the opposite'.
Watch out
You cannot say 「感謝こそすれ、とても感謝している」— a denial of the opposite is required.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
厳しく育ててくれた父には、感謝こそすれ、恨んだことは一度もない。
きびしくそだててくれたちちには、かんしゃこそすれ、うらんだことはいちどもない。
I feel nothing but gratitude to my father for raising me strictly — I have never once resented him.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 厳しく育ててくれた父 = my father who raised me strictly → 感謝 = gratitude (「する」 dropped) → 「こそすれ」 = gratitude, yes → denial of the opposite: 恨んだことは一度もない = I've never once resented him.
毎日の小さな努力は、役に立ちこそすれ、無駄になることはない。
まいにちのちいさなどりょくは、やくにたちこそすれ、むだになることはない。
Small daily efforts can only help — they are never wasted.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 毎日の小さな努力 = small daily efforts → 役に立ちます → drop 「ます」: 役に立ち → 「こそすれ」 = they certainly help → denial of the opposite: 無駄になることはない = are never wasted.
円安が続けば、物価は上がりこそすれ、下がりはしないだろう。
えんやすがつづけば、ぶっかはあがりこそすれ、さがりはしないだろう。
If the weak yen continues, prices will only go up — they won't come down.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 円安が続けば = if the yen stays weak → 物価 = prices → 上がります → drop 「ます」: 上がり → 「こそすれ」 = they will certainly rise → denial of the opposite: 下がりはしない = won't fall.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「この町の人口は＿＿こそすれ、増えることはないだろう。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: Drop 「ます」from the ます-form.
V-stem + こそすれ: 減ります → 減り → 減りこそすれ = if anything it will shrink. It doesn't attach to the dictionary, て- or た-form.
Which sentence is unnatural?
💡 Hint: Is the opposite denied afterwards?
こそすれ must be followed by a strong denial of the opposite. 'I'm grateful, I'm very grateful' has neither an opposite nor a denial.
「上司に厳しく注意されたが、尊敬し＿＿＿、嫌いになどならない。」— which fits?
💡 Hint: 「尊敬し」is a verb stem; a denial of the opposite follows.
V-stem + こそすれ = I respect him if anything, never dislike him. こそあれ only follows nouns; すら and たりとも don't attach to a verb stem.
Your score: /3