Even A
This has the same meaning as Aも, but さえ is stronger than も.
56
この問題は、子供でさえ答えられるほど易しい。
This question is so easy that even a child can answer it.
55
子供でさえこれが読めるからあなたができなければ困る。
Even kids can read this, so it'll be bad if you can't.
15
この会社では昇進さえ難しい。
It's even hard to get a promotion at this company.
17
彼女にさえ嘘をついてしまった。
I lied even to my girlfriend.
17
私は両親にさえ怒られたことがなかった。
I haven't even had my parents get angry at me.
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.
Questions/Discussion
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