Use さえ to single out an extreme or unexpected case: if even this case applies, the implication extends to others.

The idea

Place さえ after a noun: 先生さえ知りませんでした means even the teacher did not know. With a conditional, noun + さえあれば means “if only there is”; 勉強しさえすれば means “if only one studies”. The condition is presented as sufficient.

Patterns to compare
PatternExample
名詞めいし＋さえ先生せんせいさえ
名詞めいし＋さえあれば地図ちずさえあれば
する動詞どうし＋しさえすれば勉強べんきょうしさえすれば

Examples

  • 先生せんせいさえ答こたえを知しりませんでした。Even the teacher did not know the answer.
  • 忙いそがしくて、食たべる時間じかんさえありませんでした。I was so busy that I did not even have time to eat.
  • 子こどもさえこの本ほんを読よめます。Even children can read this book.
  • 地図ちずさえあれば、そこに行いけます。If only I have a map, I can get there.
  • 勉強べんきょうしさえすれば、試験しけんに合格ごうかくします。If you study, you will pass the exam.
  • 彼かれの名前なまえさえ思おもい出だせませんでした。I could not even remember his name.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

さえ and も both can mean “even”, but さえ emphasizes an extreme case. Do not read 地図さえあれば as “even if there is a map”: it means having a map is enough.

Try it yourself

  1. 先生せんせい＿答こたえを知しりませんでした。

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    さえ

    さえ — It follows 先生 and emphasizes that even the teacher did not know.

  2. 地図ちずさえ＿＿、行いけます。

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    あれば

    あれば — 地図さえあれば states that having a map is sufficient.

  3. 勉強べんきょうしさえ＿＿、合格ごうかくします。

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    すれば

    すれば — The する verb 勉強する becomes 勉強しさえすれば in this conditional.

Use it today

Describe an unexpected person who knows something, then name one condition sufficient for a goal.