ISORI

〜さえ〜ば

JLPT N3:

as long as / if only

"As long as X" or "if only X": that one condition is all that is needed for the result.

How to form it

  • Put さえ after a noun, and put the verb or adjective in its ば form: お金(かね)さえあれば (as long as I have money).
  • With a verb, さえ can follow the ます-stem, and する takes the ば form: 薬(くすり)を飲(の)みさえすれば治(なお)る (just take the medicine and you'll get better).
  • Nouns and な-adjectives can use でさえあれば: 健康(けんこう)でさえあれば (as long as I'm healthy).

Examples

お金(かね)さえあれば、買(か)えるのに。

If only I had the money, I could buy it.

君(きみ)さえいれば、それでいい。

As long as you're here, that's all I need.

Notes

  • 〜さえ〜ばよかった expresses regret: あの時(とき)、行(い)きさえしなければよかった (if only I hadn't gone that time).

Common mistakes

  • Leaving out ば. Say お金(かね)さえあれば, not お金(かね)さえある.

Similar meaning

Same form, different meaning