JLPT N3
〜こそ / 〜さえ
It is the very steady daily effort that leads to huge success in the end.
📖 Explanation & Nuance
ENGLISH EXPLANATION
「～こそ」 is an emphatic particle meaning "it is precisely ~ that; indeed; certainly." It strongly emphasizes the preceding word or phrase, highlighting it as the essential or most important element, often in contrast to others. 毎日の地道な努力**こそ**が、最後に大きな成功につながるのだ。
JAPANESE EXPLANATION
「～こそ」は、前にある言葉を強調する助詞で、「～がまさに」「～以外にはない」という意味を持ちます。特に重要であることを示します。 毎日の地道な努力**こそ**が、最後に大きな成功につながるのだ。
📝 Example Sentence
毎(まい)日(にち)の地(じ)道(みち)な努(ど)力(りょく)「こそ」が、最(さい)後(ご)に大(おお)きな成(せい)功(こう)につながるのだ。
It is the very steady daily effort that leads to huge success in the end.
Practice Quiz
Verify your grammar strength for "〜こそ / 〜さえ"
毎(まい)日(にち)の地(じ)道(みち)な努(ど)力(りょく)（ ）が、最(さい)後(ご)に大(おお)きな成(せい)功(こう)につながるのだ。
🎉 正解 / Correct!
解説 (JP): 「～こそ」は、前にある言葉を強調する助詞で、「～がまさに」「～以外にはない」という意味を持ちます。特に重要であることを示します。 毎日の地道な努力**こそ**が、最後に大きな成功につながるのだ。\n\nCommon Mistakes:\n❌ さえ: This is tricky! '〜さえ' gives an extreme example meaning 'even' (e.g., 'even a child knows'). But here, we want to strongly emphasize 'IT IS THIS EXACT THING (and nothing else) that leads to success'. For that dramatic emphasis, '〜こそ' is the king!\n❌ まで: '〜まで' means 'to the extent of' or 'until'. It doesn't connect beautifully with the subject marker 'が' to show who the true hero of success is!\n❌ ばかり: '〜ばかり' means 'only'. 'Only daily effort leads to success' technically makes sense, but it lacks the passionate 'IT IS PRECISELY THIS!' drama of 'こそ'!
Explanation (EN): 「～こそ」 is an emphatic particle meaning \"it is precisely ~ that; indeed; certainly.\" It strongly emphasizes the preceding word or phrase, highlighting it as the essential or most important element, often in contrast to others. 毎日の地道な努力**こそ**が、最後に大きな成功につながるのだ。\n\nCommon Mistakes:\n❌ さえ: This is tricky! '〜さえ' gives an extreme example meaning 'even' (e.g., 'even a child knows'). But here, we want to strongly emphasize 'IT IS THIS EXACT THING (and nothing else) that leads to success'. For that dramatic emphasis, '〜こそ' is the king!\n❌ まで: '〜まで' means 'to the extent of' or 'until'. It doesn't connect beautifully with the subject marker 'が' to show who the true hero of success is!\n❌ ばかり: '〜ばかり' means 'only'. 'Only daily effort leads to success' technically makes sense, but it lacks the passionate 'IT IS PRECISELY THIS!' drama of 'こそ'!
Explanation (EN): 「～こそ」 is an emphatic particle meaning \"it is precisely ~ that; indeed; certainly.\" It strongly emphasizes the preceding word or phrase, highlighting it as the essential or most important element, often in contrast to others. 毎日の地道な努力**こそ**が、最後に大きな成功につながるのだ。\n\nCommon Mistakes:\n❌ さえ: This is tricky! '〜さえ' gives an extreme example meaning 'even' (e.g., 'even a child knows'). But here, we want to strongly emphasize 'IT IS THIS EXACT THING (and nothing else) that leads to success'. For that dramatic emphasis, '〜こそ' is the king!\n❌ まで: '〜まで' means 'to the extent of' or 'until'. It doesn't connect beautifully with the subject marker 'が' to show who the true hero of success is!\n❌ ばかり: '〜ばかり' means 'only'. 'Only daily effort leads to success' technically makes sense, but it lacks the passionate 'IT IS PRECISELY THIS!' drama of 'こそ'!
🦅
Want to master all JLPT N3 Grammar?
Project Eagle offers thousands of gamified, AI-powered JLPT practice problems completely for free. Master Grammar, Kanji, and listening with adaptive spacing!