ばこそprecisely because
It gives the one true reason for something, often for what could be taken the wrong way: the good motive behind harsh words. The ば isn't "if": the reason is a fact. Written, and a little old-fashioned said aloud; people say からこそ.
It was precisely because I care about his future that I deliberately gave him a harsh opinion.
How to form it
Verb or adjective in the ば-form + こそ
思う → 思えばこそ, ある → あればこそ, 少ない → 少なければこそ. A noun or a な-adjective takes であれば: 親であればこそ.
- Before it
- Mostly a feeling or a state of things that still holds: 〜を思えばこそ, 愛すればこそ, 信頼していればこそ, 〜であればこそ.
- After it
- What the reason explains: something you do, can do, or think right. Often closed with のだ or のです.
- Tone
- Earnest: explaining or defending what was done.
- Where you'll meet it
- Novels, essays, speeches, a parent or a teacher in a drama. In conversation it sounds like a speech.
In use
It is because I believe it is truly necessary that I say things that are hard to hear.
It is because we trust each other that we can criticize each other frankly.
It is only thanks to your support that we have been able to keep going this far.
〜があればこそ is "only thanks to", a fixture of speeches of thanks.
A reason you stand behind
A plain account of what went wrong takes から or ので.
Not said: 寝坊すればこそ、
(It was precisely because I overslept that I was late for the meeting.)
寝坊したので、会議に遅れた.
Close neighbours
からこそN3
What people say, with the same meaning. It follows any plain form, so the reason can also be something that happened: 失敗したからこそ.
It's because I care about you that I'm so hard on you.
てこそN2
After a て-form it isn't a reason but what it takes: only by doing this.
Only by using a foreign language every day can you make it your own.
Check yourself
1What does this mean?
親であればこそ、
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which sentence sounds natural?
Choose an answer to see why.
More sentences
He has kept things going on the ground for years, and that is exactly why this role can be left to him.
It is precisely because the problem is serious that we should argue from facts, not feelings.
It is because I respect the other person that I point out mistakes frankly.
It is precisely because you are in a hard place that you understand how much other people's support means.