〜さえ
JLPT N4:even
"Even X": picks out the least expected case to show how far something goes.
How to form it
- Put さえ after a noun. It replaces が and を: 子供さえ知っている (even children know it).
- After a person, でさえ is also common: 子供でさえ.
- さえ〜ば means "as long as" or "if only". See 〜さえ〜ば.
Examples
子供でさえ知っている。
Even children know that.
忙しくて、昼ご飯を食べる時間さえなかった。
I was so busy I didn't even have time for lunch.
財布に小銭すらありません。
There isn't even any small change in my wallet.
Notes
- すら also picks out an unexpected or minimal case and is often more literary or emphatic than さえ. It replaces が or を in these examples. It does not replace さえ in the "as long as" construction さえ〜ば.
Same form, different meaning
- 〜さえ〜ばas long as / if only
さえ〜ば: "as long as", "if only".