JLPT N2: ～てこそ (it's only when/by...)

You may already know that こそ is used to emphasize the importance of something in relation to other factors. This is an N3 grammar point which, unfortunately, we haven't had a lesson on yet. We did see a few examples of this grammar point back in this lesson, though: [NDL #135] - Blood Types.

And we saw the following sentence in [NDL #374] - JLPT N2: てみせる：

去年は失敗したけど、今年こそは７月中に夏休みの宿題を終わらせてみせる。
きょねん　は　しっぱい　した　けど、　ことし　こそ　は　しちがつ　ちゅう　に　なつやすみ　の　しゅくだい　を　おわらせて　みせる。
I messed up last year, but this year I will finish my summer homework in July.
Literally: “last year + は + fail + did + けど + this year + こそ + は + in July (=July + middle) + summer vacation + の + homework + を + finish (and) + show.”

↑ こそ is emphasizing that this is the year that I will finish my summer homework early.

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In this lesson, we are looking at how putting こそ after the て-form of a VERB means something like: "it is only when/by VERB-ing that..."

This phrase is typically used with positive evaluations when stating that [blah blah blah] is only possible by experiencing [blah blah blah] (for the first time).

An example:

サグラダ・ファミリアは実物を目で見てこそ、そのすごさが分かる。
サグラダ・ファミリア　は　じつぶつ　を　め　で　みてこそ、　その　すごさ　が　わかる。
The only way to really appreciate the beauty of Sagrada Família is to see the real thing with your own eyes.
Literally: “Sagrada Família + は + the real thing + を + eyes + で + see (and) + こそ, + that + amazing(-ness) + が + understand.”

Or how about this next one?

平和があってこそ、自由が存在する。
へいわ　が　あってこそ、　じゆう　が　そんざい　する。
It is only through peace that we (can) have freedom.
Literally: “peace + が + have / there is (and) + こそ, + freedom + が + existence + does.”

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👷 Construction 👷

I already mentioned this earlier, but here is the phrase's pattern:

V て ＋ こそ
it is only through/by/when VERB-ing that...

Two more examples, and you'll have finished yet another N2 lesson.

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人は失敗を繰り返し、反省してこそ、成長できる。
ひと　は　しっぱい　を　くりかえし、　はんせい　してこそ、　せいちょう　できる。
The only way for people to grow is to make mistakes and reflect on them.
Literally: “person + は + mistake + を + repeat / do over and over (and), + reflection / reconsideration + do (and) + こそ, + growth + can do.”

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辛い経験をしてこそ、小さな幸せに感謝できるようになる。
つらい　けいけん　を　してこそ、　ちいさな　しあわせ　に　かんしゃ　できる　ように　なる。
It is only by experiencing hardships that we become able to appreciate small joys.
Literally: “painful / hard + experience + を + do (and) + こそ, + small + happiness / joy + に + thanks / gratitude + became able to do (=can do + ように + become).”

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Finished! Props to you.