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〜てこそ

only by (doing), only when

Verb て-form + こそ · Noun + であってこそ

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てこそ says something only becomes real, meaningful or possible through a particular condition: 自分でやってみてこそ、本当の意味がわかる, "only by trying it yourself do you understand what it really means".

It's こそ (N3) attached to a て-form, stressing that this condition, and no other, is the key. The second half is usually a value or an insight: わかる, 意味がある, 価値がある, できる.

After nouns and な-adjectives, it's であってこそ: 健康であってこそ、仕事ができる, "you can only work if you're healthy".

The set pattern てこその + noun means "that only exists because of": 家族がいてこその私です, "I am who I am because of my family".

Examples

  • 自分じぶんでやってみてこそ、本当ほんとうの意味いみがわかる。

    Only by trying it yourself do you understand what it really means.

  • 健康けんこうであってこそ、仕事しごとができる。

    You can only work if you're healthy.

  • 苦労くろうしてこそ、成功せいこうの喜よろこびがある。

    The joy of success only comes through hard work.

  • 家族かぞくがいてこその私わたしです。

    I am who I am because of my family.

  • 互たがいに信頼しんらいしてこそ、いいチームになれる。

    Only with mutual trust can you become a good team.

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