At a glance
Noun こそすれ means "if anything, X; certainly not the opposite". It stresses that one thing may happen and firmly denies its opposite. It is a formal N1 expression, used mostly in writing and speeches.
[する-noun] こそすれ、[opposite] + negative
[Verb masu-stem] こそすれ、[opposite] + negative
感謝こそすれ、迷惑だなんて思っていません。 If anything, I'm grateful. I don't think of it as a bother at all.
How to form it
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| する-noun | noun + こそすれ | 感謝こそすれ |
| Verb | masu-stem + こそすれ | 願いこそすれ, 増えこそすれ |
| Passive verb | passive masu-stem + こそすれ | 褒められこそすれ |
The second clause denies the opposite. It usually ends in ～ことはない, ～はずがない or ～わけがない.
Register: formal and literary. It is common in writing, speeches and polite replies.