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Decoded Slug: Noun こそすれ (~koso sure)
Japanese JLPT Grammar Point
Noun こそすれ (~koso sure)
Noun こそすれ (~koso sure)
Short explanation:
An emphatic expression for 'if anything', 'especially', and 'it is', which shows that other alternatives are hardly conceivable.
Formation:
Noun + こそすれ
Examples:
仕事こそすれ何もしていない。
Shigoto kososure nani mo shite inai.
I am not doing anything if not working.
雨こそすれ雪は降らない。
Ame kososure yuki wa furanai.
It would rather rain than snow.
彼こそすれ誰も私の意見に反対しないだろう。
Kare kososure dare mo watashi no iken ni hantai shinai darou.
He, if anyone, wouldn't oppose my opinion.
日本の食べ物こそすれ美味しいとは言えない。
Nippon no tabemono kososure oishii towa ienai.
I wouldnt say Japanese food is delicious above all else.
Long explanation:
The grammar point Noun こそすれ is a conjunction which is used in written Japanese. It's an idiomatic representative of 'even if not anything else'. In a simpler definition, it means 'especially', or 'if anything'.The speaker is persistent on their statement and does not contemplate other alternatives.