-(이)야말로

N(이)야말로 singles out one thing and stresses that it, more than anything else, truly deserves the description.

조사Particles

Han: 친구 ends in a vowel, so it takes 야말로, not 이야말로.

Examples

가: 도와주셔서 정말 감사합니다. 나: 아니에요, 저야말로 감사하죠.A: Thank you so much for your help. B: Not at all, I'm the one who should thank you.

꾸준한 노력이야말로 성공의 진정한 비결이라고 생각합니다.I believe steady effort is the true secret of success.

이번에야말로 꼭 담배를 끊겠습니다.This time, for real, I'm going to quit smoking.

건강이야말로 돈으로 살 수 없는 가장 소중한 재산이에요.Health is truly the most precious asset that money can't buy.

Don’t mix up

-(이)야말로vsN은/는은/는 just sets a topic or contrast; (이)야말로 insists this one above all fits: 건강은 중요해요 (neutral) vs 건강이야말로 제일 중요해요 (emphatic).

-(이)야말로vsN(이)야 / 에야에야 means "only then, finally"; 에야말로 means "this time for sure": 이번에야 합격했어요 (finally passed) vs 이번에야말로 합격할 거예요 (will pass for sure).

How to build it

N (after a consonant)+이야말로

N (after a vowel)+야말로

건강 → 건강이야말로, 친구 → 친구야말로

Choose the form by the last sound: 이야말로 after a consonant (건강이야말로), 야말로 after a vowel (친구야말로).
It takes the place of 이/가 or 은/는, so no subject or topic particle follows it; it can, however, come after particles like 에 or 에서 (이번에야말로).
The predicate is usually an evaluation or strong statement (most important, the real key, must do); with a plain neutral fact it sounds odd.
저야말로 is a set reply that returns thanks or an apology: "No, I'm the one who should thank you."

Classic mistake

Wrong: ~~제 친구이야말로 진짜 천재예요.~~

Right: 제 친구야말로 진짜 천재예요.

친구 ends in a vowel, so it takes 야말로, not 이야말로.

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