こそ
Japanese edit
Etymology edit
From Old Japanese.
Possibly derived from 此 (ko, “this”) + そ (so, Old Japanese emphatic particle). (Can this(+) etymology be sourced?)
Particle edit
- emphatic particle used for emphasis: it is ... that
Usage notes edit
- こそ cannot be after the predicate of a sentence. Thus, when emphasizing predicates, the structure "verbal noun + こそ + する (suru)" must be used.
- There is no direct translation, but it is roughly analogous to “precisely” or “the one that”. Compare the Ancient Greek discourse particle γε (ge).
Derived terms edit
Suffix edit
Old Japanese edit
Etymology edit
Possibly derived from 此 (ko2, “this”) + そ (so2, empathic particle). (Can this(+) etymology be sourced?)
Particle edit
こそ (ko2so2)
- emphatic particle used for emphasis
- sentence-ending particle expressing humility
- sentence-ending particle expressing hope for others
Descendants edit
- Japanese: こそ (koso)