「〜さえ」- Even

Explanation

「〜さえ」 is a Japanese particle used for emphasis, often translated as "even" or "so much as." It is used to highlight extreme examples, emphasizing the uniqueness or importance of a situation. 「〜さえ」 can be combined with nouns, particles, or personal nouns to express such extreme cases.

Grammar Pattern

Grammar Point	Connection	Explanation
〜さえ	Noun/Particle + さえ	Stronger than 「も」 or 「でも」, used to emphasize extreme cases.

Basic Usage

• Noun + さえ
  • 彼かれは勉強べんきょうする時間じかんさえない。
  • Kare wa benkyou suru jikan sae nai.
  • He doesn't even have time to study.
    
• Particle + さえ
  • そのことは子供こどもにさえわかる。
  • Sono koto wa kodomo ni sae wakaru.
  • Even a child understands that.
    
• Personal Noun + で + さえ
  • プロぷろでさえ失敗しっぱいすることもある。
  • Puro de sae shippai suru koto mo aru.
  • Even professionals sometimes fail.

Deep Dive

「さえ」 is often used to present an extreme example, implying that other things are similarly applicable. Compared to 「も」 or 「でも」, 「さえ」 carries a stronger emphasis, highlighting the extremity of the situation.

Examples

• この問題もんだいは簡単かんたんすぎて、子供こどもさえ解とける。
• Kono mondai wa kantan sugite, kodomo sae tokeru.
• This problem is so easy that even a child can solve it.
  

• 彼かれは日本人にほんじんでさえ知しらない漢字かんじがある。
• Kare wa nihonjin de sae shiranai kanji ga aru.
• He knows kanji that even Japanese people don't know.
  

• 親友しんゆうさえも私わたしの結婚けっこんに反対はんたいした。
• Shinyuu sae mo watashi no kekkon ni hantai shita.
• Even my close friend opposed my marriage.

Comparison and Differences

Particle	Usage and Explanation	Example
「さえ」	Used to emphasize extreme cases, indicating that something applies even in extreme situations.	この問題もんだいは簡単かんたんすぎて、子供こどもさえ解とける。 （This problem is so easy that even a child can solve it.）
「も」	Used to indicate that something also applies to a situation without emphasizing extremity.	この問題もんだいは簡単かんたんすぎて、子供こどもも解とける。 （This problem is so easy that a child can also solve it.）
「でも」	Indicates that something also applies to a situation but does not emphasize its uniqueness.	子供こどもでもできる。 （Even a child can do it.）
「でさえ」	Combines the particle 「で」 and 「さえ」, used to emphasize extreme cases in a place or state.	彼かれは日本人にほんじんでさえ知しらない漢字かんじがある。 （He knows kanji that even Japanese people don't know.）
「さえも」	Stronger in emphasis than 「さえ」.	親友しんゆうさえも私わたしの結婚けっこんに反対はんたいした。 （Even my close friend opposed my marriage.）

Real-Life Scenarios

• 忙いそがしすぎて、家族かぞくと夕食ゆうしょくを食たべる暇ひまさえない。
  • Isogashi sugite, kazoku to yuushoku o taberu hima sae nai.
  • I'm so busy that I don't even have time to eat dinner with my family.
    
• 彼女かのじょのことが好すきすぎて、目めさえ合あわすことができない。
  • Kanojo no koto ga suki sugite, me sae awasu koto ga dekinai.
  • I like her so much that I can't even look her in the eye.
    
• この漢字かんじは日本人にほんじんでさえ書かけない難むずかしい漢字かんじだ。
  • Kono kanji wa nihonjin de sae kakenai muzukashii kanji da.
  • This kanji is so difficult that even Japanese people can't write it.

Related Grammar

• 「〜さえ〜ば」
  • Expresses a condition, meaning "as long as... then..."
  • メールアドレスめーるあどれすさえあれば、誰だれでも登録とうろくできます。
  • Meeruadoresu sae areba, dare demo touroku dekimasu.
  • As long as you have an email address, anyone can register.
    
• 「〜すら」
  • Similar to 「さえ」 but more formal or literary.
  • 彼かれは食事しょくじすら忘わすれて仕事しごとに没頭ぼっとうする。
  • Kare wa shokuji sura wasurete shigoto ni bottou suru.
  • He even forgets to eat, completely absorbed in his work.

Common Mistakes

• Misunderstanding the difference between 「さえ」 and 「も」, thinking they are interchangeable. In reality, 「さえ」 emphasizes extreme cases, while 「も」 is a general additive expression.

Summary

「〜さえ」 is a highly useful Japanese particle for emphasis, particularly when describing extreme cases. By understanding and mastering its usage, you can express your ideas more accurately and become more proficient in Japanese.