こそあれ (koso are)

Meaning

  1. although

All JLPT 1 grammar : こそあれ(こそあれ, koso are), although, Conjunction, Particle

The use of こそあれ is quite particular. It expresses two opposite aspects an object, an action or a living body can hold (e.g. : “by doing this, there are some merits but also some demerits”, “although Alfred was a dog, ‘he’ had facial expressions close to human’s” etc..)

こそあれ is a synonym of 〜なのに or 〜ものの

Example

日本語意味
犬でこそあれ人間も及ばないところがあった。Although he was a dog, he was more than a human in many aspects.
今回の企画を実施すれば、メリットを得るこそあれデメリットは無い。If we put in practice our plan this time, although we could get the merits, we would not get the demerits.
女でこそあれ、あんな男に決して負けはしない!Although (“they can say that”) I am a woman, I will NEVER lose to this man.

Vocabulary

日本語ローマ字意味
inua dog
人間ningen(a) human
及ばないoyobanaito not equal something/someone, to be at a higher level than something/someone
企画kikakua plan
実施jisshito put in place, to put in practice
決してkesshite(to) never (something)
負けるmakeruto lose, to be defeated

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