Even A
This has the same meaning as Aも, but さえ is stronger than も.
66
此の問題は、子供でさえ答えられる程易しい。
This question is so easy that even a child can answer it.
0
63
子供でさえ此れが読めるから貴方ができなければ困る。
Even kids can read this, so it'll be bad if you can't.
2
17
此の会社では昇進さえ難しい。
It's even hard to get a promotion at this company.
0
18
彼女にさえ嘘をついて仕舞った。
I lied even to my girlfriend.
0
21
私は両親にさえ怒られたことが無かった。
I haven't even had my parents get angry at me.
0
3
ピン１本でさえ盗むのは罪である。
It is a sin to steal even a pin.
0
13
彼は自分の陰さえ恐れる。
He is even afraid of his own shadow.
0
-2
日本語能力試験1級に至っては、日本人でさえ間違えることがある。
With the 1st level of the JLPT, there are things which even Japanese people miss.
0
Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Basic Examples:
子供さえ (even a child)
Basic Examples:
見てさえ (even seeing)
Related Expressions
であれ, であろうと
Where this grammar is found
Grammar usage notes
"さえ" Can in some cases be interchanged with "でも."
For example, "メールさえできない" (he/she can't even email) cannot be substituted with "でも."
On the other hand, "先生さえ知らないので，生徒も知らないだろう" (if even the teachers don't know, then the students shouldn't either) can work with "でも." (先生でも知らないので)
Additional, one should note this grammar pattern is implicative. To illustrate, the above example "メールさえできない" (he/she can't even email) works with the understanding that email is something fairly easy to do. In stating that a person can't even email, by implication, this person likely cannot do (or do well) email-related activities, such as using a computer, writing hand-written letters, or communicating with other people (email is akin to a basic social necessity in Japan).
For example, "メールさえできない" (he/she can't even email) cannot be substituted with "でも."
On the other hand, "先生さえ知らないので，生徒も知らないだろう" (if even the teachers don't know, then the students shouldn't either) can work with "でも." (先生でも知らないので)
Additional, one should note this grammar pattern is implicative. To illustrate, the above example "メールさえできない" (he/she can't even email) works with the understanding that email is something fairly easy to do. In stating that a person can't even email, by implication, this person likely cannot do (or do well) email-related activities, such as using a computer, writing hand-written letters, or communicating with other people (email is akin to a basic social necessity in Japan).
From the discussions below:
The に and で are only used if the sentence without さえ had them originally. For example:
外国に行ったことがない。 (I haven't been to a foreign country)
外国にさえ行ったことがない。(I haven't even been to a foreign country).
Same with で. With the regular ol' さえ, it often replaces を or が, like this:
ひらがなが読めない。 (I can't read hiragana)
ひらがなさえ読めない。(I can't even read hiragana)
The に and で are only used if the sentence without さえ had them originally. For example:
外国に行ったことがない。 (I haven't been to a foreign country)
外国にさえ行ったことがない。(I haven't even been to a foreign country).
Same with で. With the regular ol' さえ, it often replaces を or が, like this:
ひらがなが読めない。 (I can't read hiragana)
ひらがなさえ読めない。(I can't even read hiragana)
で may be added for emphasis. に is only present if carried over from the phrase without さえ.
すら and さえ are very close, and in many sentences they are interchangeable, but they are not identical in tone or range.
Both mark an extreme or boundary case and carry the idea of “even.” They present something as the minimum, most basic, or least expected example, implying that if this is true, then other cases certainly are as well.
The difference is mainly in tone and register. すら is more formal, written, and analytical. It often sounds objective, logical, or slightly detached, and it appears frequently in essays, narration, and explanatory prose. さえ is more conversational and emotionally colored. It feels closer to spoken language and often carries a sense of frustration, surprise, or personal reaction. It is very common in everyday speech.
There are also small distributional differences. さえ works more naturally with conditionals (and is covered in a separate grammar entry) and expectations, while すら is more common in factual statements, negations, and written narration.
Take an example:
彼は自分の名前すら書けない。
彼は自分の名前さえ書けない。
彼は自分の名前も書けない。
He can’t even write his own name.
すら frames “his own name” as a logical lower bound. If he cannot do this most basic thing, then nothing more complex is possible. It sounds analytical and is common in written or explanatory contexts.
さえ also marks an extreme case, but with more emotional involvement. It often conveys disbelief, frustration, or shock, and feels more conversational than すら.
も is additive. It treats “his own name” as one more thing on a list of things he cannot do, without highlighting it as an extreme case.
Both mark an extreme or boundary case and carry the idea of “even.” They present something as the minimum, most basic, or least expected example, implying that if this is true, then other cases certainly are as well.
The difference is mainly in tone and register. すら is more formal, written, and analytical. It often sounds objective, logical, or slightly detached, and it appears frequently in essays, narration, and explanatory prose. さえ is more conversational and emotionally colored. It feels closer to spoken language and often carries a sense of frustration, surprise, or personal reaction. It is very common in everyday speech.
There are also small distributional differences. さえ works more naturally with conditionals (and is covered in a separate grammar entry) and expectations, while すら is more common in factual statements, negations, and written narration.
Take an example:
彼は自分の名前すら書けない。
彼は自分の名前さえ書けない。
彼は自分の名前も書けない。
He can’t even write his own name.
すら frames “his own name” as a logical lower bound. If he cannot do this most basic thing, then nothing more complex is possible. It sounds analytical and is common in written or explanatory contexts.
さえ also marks an extreme case, but with more emotional involvement. It often conveys disbelief, frustration, or shock, and feels more conversational than すら.
も is additive. It treats “his own name” as one more thing on a list of things he cannot do, without highlighting it as an extreme case.
Questions/Discussion
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