Verb こそすれ

When to use

Verb こそすれ～ない: may do X, but never Y.

Explanation

Verb-ますstem + こそすれ is typically used to emphasize that while someone might certainly do or be X, there's no way they would do or be Y. The sentence that follows is usually a strong negative, denying the possibility of Y.

• 彼かれは友達ともだちを助たすけこそすれ、自分じぶんを卑下することはありません。

  He might help his friends, but he never belittles himself.

  Kare wa tomodachi o tasuke koso sure, jibun o higesuru koto wa arimasen.

• 彼女かのじょは料理りょうりこそすれ、掃除そうじはほとんどしない。

  She might cook, but she rarely cleans.

  Kanojo wa ryōri koso sure, sōji wa hotondo shinai.

• 私わたしの兄あには勉強べんきょうこそすれ、遊あそぶ時間じかんがほとんどない。

  He might study a lot, but he barely has time to have fun.

  Watashi no ani wa benkyō koso sure, asobu jikan ga hotondo nai.

• 母ははは働はたらきこそすれ、自分じぶんのために時間じかんを使つかうことはほとんどない。

  My mother might work a lot, but she hardly spends any time on herself.

  Haha wa hataraki koso sure, jibun no tame ni jikan o tsukau koto wa hotondo nai.

Emphasis With こそ (Precisely / Only By)

• ～こそ〜kosoN3Emphasizes the importance or uniqueness of something or…
• ～てこそ〜te kosoN2Emphasizes the condition; 'only when', 'precisely because'.
• ～からこそ〜kara kosoN2Express the emphasis on the reason; 'precisely because'…
• Noun こそあれ~koso areN1Expresses 'though there is ... (some negative or…
• Noun こそ～が~koso~gaN1Emphasizes that 'it is precisely Noun that ...', then adds…
• Noun こそすれ~koso sureN1An emphatic pattern meaning 'it may be X, but definitely…

Compare when to use each